The first seroepidemiological study on Toxoplasma gondii in backyard pigs in Myanmar

Yu Nandi Thaw; Tin Aye Khaing; Kyaw San Linn; Soe Soe Wai; Lat Lat Htun; Saw Bawm

doi:10.1016/j.parepi.2021.e00216

The first seroepidemiological study on Toxoplasma gondii in backyard pigs in Myanmar

Parasite Epidemiol Control. 2021 Jun 5:14:e00216. doi: 10.1016/j.parepi.2021.e00216. eCollection 2021 Aug.

Authors

Yu Nandi Thaw¹, Tin Aye Khaing², Kyaw San Linn³, Soe Soe Wai⁴, Lat Lat Htun¹, Saw Bawm⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary Science, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw 15013, Myanmar.
² Department of Veterinary and Slaughterhouse, Nay Pyi Taw Development Committee, Myanmar.
³ Department of Aquaculture and Aquatic Diseases, University of Veterinary Science, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw 15013, Myanmar.
⁴ Department of Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Science, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw 15013, Myanmar.
⁵ Department of International Relations and Information Technology, University of Veterinary Science, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw 15013, Myanmar.

Abstract

A cross-sectional study of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigs was carried out in backyard farms in three townships, within Nay Pyi Taw area from June 2014 to August 2014. Blood samples were randomly collected from 256 pigs in 129 farms. Using commercial Latex Agglutination Test kits, specific antibodies to T. gondii were analyzed. Based on LAT results, among 256 serum samples examined, 47 samples (18.4%) were found positive to T. gondii. The numbers of samples showing specific antibody titres from 47 positive pig sera were 20 at 1:64, 2 samples at 1:128, 9 samples at 1:256, 3 samples at 1:512 and 13 samples at 1:1024. Among the hypothesized risk factors, roaming of cats around the farm was found associated to T. gondii seropositivity in pigs (OR = 3.13; 95% CI = 1.33-7.34). This study provides information on seroepidemiology study of T. gondii in backyard pigs for the first time in Myanmar. This information will be useful in developing strategies for the control of T. gondii infection in pigs.

Keywords: Backyard farms; Myanmar; Pigs; Seroprevalence; Toxoplasma gondii.