ABSTRACT
Toxoplasma gondii is a worldwide zoonotic protozoan parasite and pork is considered the major meat source of Toxoplasma infection in humans. To determine the prevalence of infection of Toxoplasma gondii in pigs reared in the Umbria Region (central Italy), blood samples of 960 pigs from 10 different farms (96 for each farm) were randomly collected and tested for antibodies (IgG) against T. gondii using an IFA assay. Sera were screened at 1/16 titrr and the endpoint titre was determined. Farm management questionnaires were completed and used to develop descriptive statistics on the tested farms as well as to determine measures of association for risk factors for the presence of T. gondii-seropositive pigs. A total of 155 seropositive pigs (16.14%) were identified; within herds prevalence ranged from 8.33 to 25%. The statistical analysis identified all-in-all-out housing and cleaning method as risk factors for Toxoplasma infection.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Swine Diseases/epidemiology , Toxoplasma/immunology , Toxoplasmosis, Animal/epidemiology , Animal Husbandry , Animals , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Italy/epidemiology , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , Swine , Swine Diseases/blood , Swine Diseases/parasitology , Toxoplasmosis, Animal/bloodABSTRACT
Ringworm infections in the principal domestic animals are a major public and veterinary health problem. The aetiology, epidemiology and symptomatology of these mycoses are quite heterogeneous and complex. In this context, the AA carried out an epidemiological study to investigate the prevalence of dermatophytes in two different animal species, horses (n = 200) belonging to 10 private stables and cattle (n = 1900) belonging to farms with different breeding purposes and management. With regard to horses the results showed a positive level of 9% and Trichophyton equinum was the major organism isolated. The results concerning the cattle showed positive values that varied both in relation to the type of animals and their management as well as to the productive objectives: 19% in intensive beef breeding, 4.5% in intensive dairy farms (the aetiologic agent isolated in both types of farms was Trichophyton verrucosum) and 8% in traditional-type farms (the species of fungi isolated were T. verrucosum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes). The results are discussed both in clinical and in hygiene and management terms.
