Toxoplasma gondii in Ireland: Seroprevalence and Novel Molecular Detection Method in Sheep, Pigs, Deer and Chickens. (15th June 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Halová, D.; Mulcahy, G.; Rafter, P.; Turčeková, L.; Grant, T.; de Waal, T.
• Is Part Of: Zoonoses and public health. Volume 60:Number 2(2013)
• Page Start: 168
• Page End: 173
• Publication Date: 2012-06-15
• Subjects: Zoonoses -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 636.0896959
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2012.01514.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1863-1959

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Summary</title> <p> <italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic> is among the most studied parasites worldwide but there is not much information about it published in Ireland. The objectives of this study were to determine the seroprevalence of <italic>T. gondii</italic> in sheep, pigs, deer and chickens and the molecular detection of <italic>T. gondii</italic> DNA in muscle tissue. Serum samples were collected from these species at the time of slaughter at Irish abattoirs during 2007 and tested for anti‐<italic>T. gondii</italic> antibodies using a commercial semi‐quantitative latex agglutination test. Antibodies (titre ≥1 : 64) were found in 36% (105/292) sheep, 4.7% (15/317) pigs and 6.6% (23/348) deer. In chickens, 18% (65/364) had antibody titres, ranging between 1 : 5 and 1 : 1024. Significant (<italic>P</italic> ≤ 0.05) age‐related differences in seroprevalence were found in adult sheep (58.1%) and pigs (23.1%). Significant gender differences in seroprevalence was also found in sheep with more females (43%) than males (22.4%) being positive. However, when adjusted for age through logistic regression gender was no longer significant. Seroprevalence was also evaluated on farm locations grouped to NUTS level 3, but the prevalence was too low to draw any statistical conclusions. Using a nested PCR, the presence of <italic>T. gondii</italic> DNA was detected in diaphragm samples from 3.6% (3/83) sheep, 13.0% (3/23) pig and 4.2% (3/71) deer. Meat digestion liquids from a <italic>Trichinella </italic>spp. survey in pigs were also used for the first time to detect <italic>T. gondii</italic>. <italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic> DNA was detected in 50% (10/20) of pooled samples. This is the first in depth study of <italic>T. gondii</italic> seroprevalence in animals in Ireland and a novel method, using digestion liquid from pooled diaphragm samples, for PCR detection in pigs is described.</p> </abstract>