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Title:   Author  item
                                            Dubey, Jitenderitem
                                            Hill, Doloresitem
                                            SUNDAR, N - USDA ARS ANRI APDLitem
                                            VELMURUGAN, G - USDA ARS ANRI APDLitem
                                            BANDINI, L - USDA ARS ANRI APDLitem
                                            Kwok, Oliveritem
                                            PIERCE, V - MD DEPT AGRICULTUREitem
                                            KELLY, K - MD DEPT AGRICULTUREitem
                                            DULIN, M - MD DEPT AGRICULTUREitem
                                            SU, C - U TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE
  Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 6/23/2007
                                    Publication  Date: 2/1/2008
                                    Citation: Dubey, J.P., Hill, D.E., Sundar, N., Velmurugan, G.V., Bandini, L.A., Kwok, O.C., Pierce, V., Kelly, K., Dulin, M., Su, C. 2008. Endemic toxoplasmosis in pigs on a farm in Maryland:  Isolation and genetic characterization of toxoplasma gondii. Journal of Parasitology. 94:36-41.Interpretive Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite of all warm-blooded hosts worldwide. It causes mental retardation and loss of vision in children, and abortion in livestock. Cats are the main reservoir of T. gondii because they are the only hosts that can excrete the resistant stage (oocyst) of the parasite in the feces. Humans become infected by eating undercooked meat from infected animals and food and water contaminated with oocysts.Toxoplasmosis causes mortality in many species of animals in the zoos, especially primates.

Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center  and the Maryland Department of Agriculture report high prevalence of Toxoplasma in pigs on a farm in Maryland. The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists,  and veterinarians.
                                Technical Abstract: The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii was investigated on a poorly managed pig farm in Maryland. Serum and tissue samples from 48 of the 100 pigs on the farm were available for T. gondii evaluation. Serology was evaluated using both ELISA and the modified agglutination test (MAT).  Antibodies were detected by ELISA in 12 of 48 animals, while antibodies to T. gondii were found in 36 of 48 pigs with the MAT titers of 1:10 in 5, 1:20 in 2, 1:40 in 5, 1:80 in 7, 1:160 in 5, 1:320 in 4, 1:640 in 4, and 1:1,280 in 4.  Hearts of 16 pigs with MAT titers of 1:10 or higher were bioassayed for T. gondii in cats; 11 cats  shed T. gondii oocysts. Hearts of 22 pigs were autolysed and bioassayed only in mice; T. gondii was isolated from 3 of these 22 pigs. Genetic typing of the 14 T. gondii isolates using the SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA,6 c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, a new SAG2 and Apico loci revealed 4 genotypes; 10 isolates  belong to Type II lineage (genotypes #1 and #2), 3 belong to genotype #3  and 1 belongs to genotype #4. Genotype #1 and #2 have Type II alleles at all genetic loci except the former has Type II allele and the latter has a Type I allele at locus Apico. Both genotype #1 and #2 are considered to belong to the clonal Type II lineages. Genotype #3 and #4 are non-clonal isolates. Results indicate low genetic diversity among T. gondii isolates from pigs in the U.S.


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