U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            GARCIA, I - University Of Barcelonaitem
                                            Dubey, Jitenderitem
                                            SIMON-GRIFE, M - University Of Barcelonaitem
                                            CABEZON, O - University Of Barcelonaitem
                                            ALLEPUZ, A - University Of Barcelona
  Submitted to: Research in Veterinary Science
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 10/20/2009
                                    Publication  Date: 6/20/2010
                                    Citation: Garcia, I., Dubey, J.P., Simon-Grife, M., Cabezon, O., Allepuz, A. 2010. Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in pig from 23 farms from Catalonia, North-eastern Spain. Research in Veterinary Science. 89(1):85-87.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 ingesting undercooked meat from infected animals and food and water contaminated with oocysts. In the present paper, scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and from a University in Barcelona, report the prevalence of Toxoplasma from pigs from Spain for the first time. The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, and veterinarians.
                                Technical Abstract: A cross-sectional study was performed to estimate the seroprevalence and associated risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigs in Catalonia, North-eastern Spain. Blood samples from 1202 pigs including sows, and pigs of three, seven, 11, 15 and 20 weeks of age were collected from 23 farms. The association between the seroprevalence against T. gondii and different variables obtained from the questionnaire filled by farmers were analyzed by linear regression analysis. Differences among the seropositivity and age classes and among number of parities in sows were assessed by means of a generalized linear mixed model. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against T. gondii using the modified agglutination test. Overall, the prevalence of antibodies against T. gondii was 19.0% (95% CI: 16.8-21.2), and the within-farm prevalence ranged between 1.6% and 35.3%. The risk factors significantly associated with T. gondii seroprevalence were the presence of cats, percentage of mortality at weaning and the presence of outdoor facilities in the farms. Statistically significant differences were found in seroprevalence and age of pigs. Pigs of 11 and 15 weeks of age generally had statistically significant higher seroprevalence than pigs of other age groups. The seroprevalence observed in the present study indicates widespread exposure to T. gondii among domestic pigs in Catalonia, which might have important implications in public health.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov