title: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sows in Hunan province, China.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii infections are prevalent in animals and humans worldwide. Although the prevalence of T. gondii has been reported in many animals in China, little is known of T. gondii infection in sows. Antibodies to T. gondii in sows in Hunan province, subtropical China, were examined using indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT). Overall, 31.3% (373/1191) of the examined sows were seropositive for T. gondii. Among 11 representative regions of Hunan province, the seroprevalence ranged from 14.8% to 45.1%. In addition, the T. gondii seroprevalence was higher in summer (37.4%) and autumn (34.9%) than in spring (24.6%) and winter (23.9%). Regarding different antibody titers, the seroprevalence ranged from 1.8% (titer ≥ 1: 1024) to 17.4% (titer = 1:64). The findings of the present investigation revealed the high seroprevalence of T. gondii in sows in Hunan province, China, which poses a potential risk for T. gondii infection in humans and animals in this province. Therefore, effective measures should be taken to prevent and control toxoplasmosis of pigs in this province. This is the first report of the comprehensive survey of T. gondii seroprevalence in sows in Hunan Province, subtropical China.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, China ; College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China.
authors.forename: Run-Cheng
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, China ; College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, China ; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agriculture University, Changchun, Jilin 130118, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, China ; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agriculture University, Changchun, Jilin 130118, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Xuan
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China.
authors.forename: Xing-Long
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, China ; College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China.
authors.forename: Xing-Quan
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology