home    about    browse    search    latest    help 
Login | Create Account

The role of rodents and shrews in the transmission of Toxoplasma gondii to pigs

Kijlstra, Prof.Dr. Aize; Meerburg, Dr. Bastiaan; Cornelissen, Jan; De Craeye, Ste´phane; Vereijken, Pieter and Jongert, Dr. Erik (2008) The role of rodents and shrews in the transmission of Toxoplasma gondii to pigs. Veterinary Parasitology. [In Press]

[thumbnail of Abstract.pdf] PDF - English
5kB

Document available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.05.030


Summary

Inadequate rodent control is considered to play a role in Toxoplasma gondii infection of pigs. This issue was addressed in the current study by combining a 4-month rodent control campaign and a 7-month longitudinal analysis of T. gondii seroprevalence in slaughter pigs. Three organic pig farms with known rodent infestation were included in the study. On these farms, presence of T. gondii in trapped rodents was evaluated by real-time PCR. All rodent species and shrews investigated had T. gondii DNA in brain or heart tissue. Prevalence was 10.3% in Rattus norvegicus, 6.5% in Mus musculus, 14.3% in Apodemus sylvaticus and 13.6% in Crocidura russula. Initial T. gondii seroprevalence in the slaughter pigs ranged between 8% and 17% and dropped on the three farms during the rodent control campaign to 0–10%, respectively. After 4 months of rodent control, T. gondii infection was absent from pigs from two of the three farms investigated and appeared again in one of those two farms after the rodent control campaign had stopped. This study emphasizes the role of rodents and shrews in the transmission of T. gondii to pigs and the importance of rodent control towards production of T. gondii-free pig meat.


EPrint Type:Journal paper
Keywords:T. gondii; Rodent control; Pigs; Parasite reservoir; Rattus norvegicus; Mus musculus; Apodemus sylvaticus; Crocidura russula
Subjects: Animal husbandry > Health and welfare
Research affiliation: Netherlands > Wageningen University & Research (WUR) > Animal Sciences Group ASG
Deposited By: Kijlstra, Prof. Dr. Aize
ID Code:13828
Deposited On:04 Aug 2008
Last Modified:12 Apr 2010 07:37
Document Language:English
Status:In Press
Refereed:Peer-reviewed and accepted

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics