An outbreak of lethal toxoplasmosis in pigs in the Gansu province of China

J Vet Diagn Invest. 2010 May;22(3):442-4. doi: 10.1177/104063871002200318.

Abstract

In October 2004, a swine farm in Jinchang, Gansu Province, China, experienced an outbreak of toxoplasmosis. Most of the affected pigs had a rectal temperature greater than 40 degrees C and gradually lost their appetite. Morbidity reached 57%, and mortality was approximately 2%. Analysis of blood samples from affected pigs using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay, immunoglobulin G-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IgG-ELISA), and IgM-ELISA tests showed high titers of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibody. Tachyzoites of T. gondii were found in body fluids of mice inoculated intraperitoneally with ground samples from the heart, liver, spleen, and brain of 2 sick pigs. In addition, the inoculation of 5 pigs with T. gondii tachyzoites caused death in 2 of the pigs. The origin of this outbreak was concluded to be food-borne T. gondii infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / parasitology
  • China / epidemiology
  • Climate
  • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary*
  • Female
  • Heart / parasitology
  • Liver / parasitology
  • Mice / parasitology
  • Morbidity
  • Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / isolation & purification
  • Spleen / parasitology
  • Swine
  • Swine Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Swine Diseases / mortality
  • Toxoplasma / isolation & purification*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / mortality