ABSTRACT
Wild boar (Sus scrofa) was introduced in many countries of the world and is recognized as carrier of many infectious diseases. Wild game meat consumption is recognized as a source of transmission of Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spp. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii and Trichinella spp. in free-range wild boars in Northeastern Argentine Patagonia. Between 2014 and 2018, 144 blood samples and 423 muscle samples from 423 carcasses were collected. To detect T. gondii IgG, 144 sera were processed by an immunofluorescent antibody test, and to detect anti-Trichinella IgG, 125 sera and 304 muscle juice samples were processed by ELISA. Detection of first stage larvae in muscle was performed by artificial digestion. A total of 423 wild boars muscle samples were negative to Trichinella spp. by artificial digestion. Antibodies to Trichinella spp. were detected in 2.4% (3/125) of serum samples and in 1.64% (5/304) of meat juice samples. Antibodies to T. gondii infection were detected in 12.5% (18/144) of the serum samples. This is the first study to reveal the presence of antibodies to T. gondii in wild boars from Argentina. The present results suggest that consumption of raw or undercooked wild boar meat could represent a potential source risk for toxoplasmosis in humans and that Trichinella spp. is infrequent and/or that it circulates in low burdens among wild boars in Northeastern Patagonia.
Subject(s)
Sus scrofa , Swine Diseases/epidemiology , Toxoplasmosis, Animal/epidemiology , Trichinellosis/veterinary , Animals , Animals, Wild/parasitology , Antibodies, Helminth/blood , Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Argentina/epidemiology , Female , Male , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Swine , Swine Diseases/parasitology , Toxoplasma , Toxoplasmosis, Animal/parasitology , Trichinellosis/epidemiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes hepatitis worldwide. In Europe, wild boars are known to be viral reservoirs and sources of infection. In South America, there is a lack of information about HEV in these animals. METHODS: A total of 102 wild boar serum samples from Argentina (2014-2017) were studied for serological and molecular HEV detection. RESULTS: We obtained a seroprevalence of 19.6%, similar to that recently described in Uruguay (the only antecedent in South America). HEV ribonucleic acid (RNA) was amplified in two anti-HEV-positive samples. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of HEV circulation in wild boars from Argentina, adding evidence to the findings obtained in Uruguay indicating that wild boars could be viral reservoirs in South America.
