A serological Survey of Brucella spp., Salmonella spp., Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spp. in Iberian Fattening Pigs Reared in Free‐Range Systems. Issue 5 (7th January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hernández, M.; Gómez‐Laguna, J.; Tarradas, C.; Luque, I.; García‐Valverde, R.; Reguillo, L.; Astorga, R. J.
• Is Part Of: Transboundary and emerging diseases. Volume 61:Issue 5(2014)
• Page Start: 477
• Page End: 481
• Publication Date: 2013-01-07
• Subjects: Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1865-1674

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="tbed12049-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Zoonotic agents such as <italic>Brucella</italic> spp., <italic>Salmonella</italic> spp., <italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic> and <italic>Trichinella</italic> spp., all considered high‐risk zoonotic pathogens by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), may cause no symptoms of infection in free‐range pigs yet still have a significant public health impact. A serological survey was therefore performed to determine the history of occurrence of these pathogens in such pigs in southern Spain. A total of 709 serum samples were collected at abattoir from pigs from 79 farms and analysed for specific antibodies against the above pathogens using commercially available ELISA kits. Encysted <italic>Trichinella</italic> spp. larvae were also sought following the artificial digestion method of diaphragm pillar muscle. The results showed <italic>Salmonella</italic> spp. to be widely distributed among the sampled herds [73.42%, 95% confidence interval (CI₉₅) 65.6–81.78] and <italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic> to be present in over half (58.23%, CI₉₅ 47.33–69.07). The seroprevalence of <italic>Brucella</italic> spp. was very low (3.8%, CI₉₅ 0.18–7.42), and antibodies against <italic>Trichinella</italic> spp. were not detected. No encysted <italic>Trichinella</italic> spp. larvae were microscopically detected.</p> </abstract>