Cross-Sectional Study of Anti-Trichinella Antibody Prevalence in Domestic Pigs and Hunted Wild Boars in Estonia.
Trichinella spp. are relevant zoonotic pathogens in Estonia. The aim of this nationwide cross-sectional study was to estimate the seroprevalence of Trichinella spp. in domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) and hunted wild boars (Sus scrofa). Serum samples from 374 pigs, originating from 14 farms, and meat juice samples from 470 wild boars were tested for immunoglobulin G antibodies against Trichinella excretory/secretory antigens using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Antibodies against Trichinella were not detected in the domestic pigs, indicating effective parasite control strategies in the farms. By contrast, 42.1% of the wild boars tested positive, indicating substantial infection pressure in the sylvatic cycle. Further analysis of a subset of the wild boar samples, using another ELISA and Western blot, yielded a confirmed seroprevalence estimate of 17.4%. A substantial proportion of wild boars in Estonia had evidence of exposure to Trichinella spp. and may have carried infective larvae. Undercooked Estonian wild boar meat is a potential source of Trichinella spp. infections to humans and other hosts.
1 Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences , Tartu, Estonia .|2 Estonian Veterinary and Food Laboratory , Tartu, Estonia .
Age
A
Kärssin
1 Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences , Tartu, Estonia .
Kaisa
K
Velström
3 Istituto Superiore di Sanita , Rome, Italy .
Maria Angeles
MA
Gómez-Morales
1 Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences , Tartu, Estonia .
Tiiu
T
Saar
1 Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences , Tartu, Estonia .|4 University of Helsinki , Helsinki, Finland .
Pikka
P
Jokelainen
1 Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences , Tartu, Estonia .
Brian
B
Lassen
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004957:Estonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D015995:Prevalence; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D014234:Trichinella / Q000276:immunology*; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
Europe; IgG; Sus scrofa; Trichinella spp; food safety; serology; swine