Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Danish farmed mink (Mustela vison S.)

Vet Parasitol. 1994 May;53(1-2):1-5. doi: 10.1016/0304-4017(94)90010-8.

Abstract

One hundred and ninety-five mink sera randomly selected from 17 Danish mink farms were evaluated for the presence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in the latex agglutination test. Six (3%) sera contained T. gondii antibodies in titres of 1:64 or more. The estimated 3% prevalence means that 300,000 mink out of a total mink population of ten million might be infected with Toxoplasma gondii. This large number of possible sero-positive mink in Denmark indicates that there exists a potential risk of acquiring toxoplasmosis by pelting mink.

MeSH terms

  • Agricultural Workers' Diseases / etiology
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Latex Fixation Tests / veterinary
  • Mink / parasitology*
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Toxoplasma / immunology*
  • Toxoplasmosis / etiology
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology*
  • Zoonoses

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan