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
 Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory: Beltsville, MD
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Resources
                        Our ScientistsSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Northeast Area Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) Beltsville Agricultural Research Center Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory 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
                                            ALVARADO-ESQUIVEL, C - Juarez University Of The State Of Durangoitem
                                            ROMERO-SALAS, D - University Of Veracruzanaitem
                                            GARCI-VAZQUEZ, Z - Instituto Nacional De Investigaciones Forestales Y Agropecuarias (INIFAP)item
                                            CRIVELLI-DIAZ, M - University Of Veracruzanaitem
                                            BARRIENTOS-MORALES, M - University Of Veracruzanaitem
                                            LOPEZ-DE-BUEN, L - University Of Veracruzanaitem
                                            Dubey, Jitender
  Submitted to: Tropical Animal Health and Production
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 1/29/2014
                                    Publication  Date: 2/9/2014
                                    Citation: Alvarado-Esquivel, C., Romero-Salas, D., Garci-Vazquez, Z., Crivelli-Diaz, M., Barrientos-Morales, M., Lopez-De-Buen, L., Dubey, J.P. 2014. Seroprevalence and correlates of Toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic pigs in Veracruz State, Mexico. Tropical Animal Health and Production. 46:705-709.Interpretive Summary: Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease and a major food safety and public health issue. Humans become infected with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii by eating undercooked infected meat or by ingesting food or water contaminated with oocyst excreted by cats. Among the food animals, infected pork is considered a major source of infection. In the present paper that 182 (45.3%) of the 402 pigs from Veracruz State, Mexico had antibodies to T. gondii. Results indicate that backyard pigs in Veracruz have the highest seroprevalence of T. gondii infection. Because there is no testing for this parasite of pigs at slaughter there is no way to distinguish infected from uninfected pork. These findings are of interest because of international trade. These results will be of interest to parasitologists and biologists. For public safety all meat should be cooked thoroughly before human consumption.
                                Technical Abstract: Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigs has epidemiological concern for its contributing role in human infections. We determined seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in 402 domestic pigs raised in backyards in Veracruz State, Mexico using the modified agglutination test (MAT, cut off 1:25); 182 (45.3%) of the 402 pigs were seropositive with MAT titers of 1:25 in 28, 1:50 in 22, 1:100 in 18, 1:200 in 30, 1:400 in 35, 1:800 in 23, 1:1600 in 11, and 1:3200 or higher in 15. Seropositive pigs were found in 137 (53.3%) of 257 homes in all 7 municipalities surveyed. Multivariate analysis showed that T. gondii seropositivity in pigs was associated with altitude (<50 meters above sea level) (OR = 35.56; 95% CI: 7.67-164.87; P<0.001), and tropical-humid climate (OR =4.32; 95% CI: 1.47-12.62; P=0.007) of the raising municipalities, feeding with leftovers (OR = 2.83; 95% CI: 1.01-7.91; P=0.04), storing pig food in the owner home (OR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.09-5.22; P=0.02) and free ranging (OR = 3.48; 95% CI: 1.49-8.15; P=0.003). Results indicate that backyard pigs in Veracruz have the highest seroprevalence of T. gondii infection obtained by MAT in pigs studied in Mexico so far. The correlates of T. gondii infection found in the present study may be useful for an optimal planning of preventive measures against T. gondii infection in pigs. Results also remark the risk of T. gondii infection in humans by ingestion of raw or undercooked pork in Mexico.


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