Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in common moles (Talpa europaea).
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in common moles, Talpa europaea, was investigated in order to determine whether moles can serve as an indicator species for T. gondii infections in livestock.


RESULTS
In total, 86 moles were caught from 25 different sites in the Netherlands. Five different trapping habitats were distinguished: pasture, garden, forest, roadside, and recreation area. No positive samples (brain cysts) were found during microscopic detection (n = 70). Using the Latex Agglutination Test (LAT), sera of 70 moles were examined, whereby no sample reacted with T. gondii antigen. Real Time-PCR tests on brain tissue showed 2 positive samples (2.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
Because of the low number of positives in our study, the use of the common mole as an indicator species for livestock infections is currently not recommended.
Wageningen UR (University & Research centre), Livestock Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Inge.Krijger@wur.nl.
Inge M
IM
Krijger
Wageningen UR (University & Research centre), Central Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB, Lelystad, The Netherlands. Jan.Cornelissen@wur.nl.
Jan B W J
JB
Cornelissen
Wageningen UR (University & Research centre), Central Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB, Lelystad, The Netherlands. Henk.Wisselink@wur.nl.
Henk J
HJ
Wisselink
Wageningen UR (University & Research centre), Livestock Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Bastiaan.Meerburg@wur.nl.
Bastiaan G
BG
Meerburg
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D008971:Moles / Q000469:parasitology*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000502:physiology; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan