title: Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii in domestic pigs from Spain.
abstract: Serum samples from 2970 (1400 sows, 1570 fattening) pigs, from 100 farms in the 10 main swine production regions in Spain were tested for antibodies against T. gondii by the modified agglutination test (MAT). Antibodies to T. gondii (MAT 1:25 or higher) were detected in 492 pigs (16.6%, 9.7% in fattening pigs and 24.2% in sows). The herd prevalence was 85.0% (95% CI: 78-92) and within-farm prevalence ranged from 2.9% to 92.8% (median=17.6%). Statistically significant differences were observed among sampling regions with seroprevalence significantly higher in pigs from Valencia Community (27.3%), Extremadura (23.3%) and Catalonia (21.2%). A generalized estimating equations model indicated that the risk factors associated with T. gondii seroprevalence were: age, sows compared to fattening pigs (OR=2.9; 95% CI=1.83-4.53), lack of rodent control (OR=1.9; 95% CI=1.04-3.60) and presence of cats (OR=1.6; 95% CI=1.12-2.34). The seroprevalence observed in the present study indicates a widespread, although variable, exposure to T. gondii among domestic pigs in Spain, which might have important implications for public health. Management measures including control of rodents and cats on the farms could help to reduce the observed prevalence levels in Spain.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, UCO, Campus Universitarios de Rabanales, Apdo., Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: García-Bocanegra
authors.forename: Meritxell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simon-Grifé
authors.forename: Jitender P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dubey
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Casal
authors.forename: Gerard E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cabezón
authors.forename: Anselmo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perea
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Almería
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000379:methods; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000469:parasitology*; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan