title: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in wild boars (Sus scrofa) from Central Italy.
abstract: Wild and farmed game meat consumption has been highlighted as an emerging risk factor for Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans. In Central Italy wild boar is widely distributed and is also one of the most popular game species. The main goal of the present study was to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies through a serological survey conducted on 400 hunted wild boars (250 males and 150 females) during three subsequent hunting seasons (2009-2011), using an Immunofluorescence Antibody Assay. The animals were sorted by age, determined on the evaluation of the dental table; 101 were <1 year old, 175 from 1 to 3 years, and 124 > 3 years. Antibodies against T. gondii were detected in 56 (14%) serum samples with titers ranging from 40 to ≥160; a significant association (p < 0.05) was found between seropositivity and age, but not gender, hunting districts, or year of sampling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopathological Science and Hygiene of Animal Production and Food, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ranucci
authors.forename: Fabrizia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Veronesi
authors.forename: Annabella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Branciari
authors.forename: Dino
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miraglia
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Manfredi
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piergili Fioretti
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000469:parasitology*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan