Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigs, in Zhejiang Province, China

J Parasitol. 2011 Aug;97(4):748-9. doi: 10.1645/GE-2713.1. Epub 2011 Feb 3.

Abstract

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigs in 10 regions of Zhejiang Province, China, was obtained by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Anti- T. gondii antibodies were found in 53.4% (434/813) of pigs. Results were analyzed by a chi-square (χ(2)) test. Differences were observed according to farm size, animal age, and sampling regions. Seroprevalences in pigs raised on small farms (71.4%) were significantly higher than that (42.7%) on large farms (P < 0.05), and seroprevalence increased progressively with age. The seroprevalence ranged from 28.1% to 66.0% in different regions, with Jiaxing having the lowest level (28.1%), followed by Hangzhou (36.0%) and Taizhou (42.0%). This is the first study on seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in pigs in Zhejiang Province.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Distribution
  • Animal Husbandry
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • China / epidemiology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
  • Risk Factors
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Swine
  • Swine Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Swine Diseases / parasitology
  • Toxoplasma / immunology*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan