Survey of Market Swine to Determine Prevalence of Toxoplasma Antibodies in Meat Juice Samples from Selected Abattoirs

Abstract

<p>Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by a protozoan parasite infection in mammals and birds. Exposure to contaminated cat feces in feed or the environment may spread T. gondii to pigs and to other mammals. Direct exposure to humans from cat feces also occurs. Significant human health risks including congenital birth defects or fetal death, encephalitis or pneumonic forms are attributed to human Toxoplasma infections. A total of 138,682 samples were collected and 74,500 were selected from market swine at 12 cooperating abattoirs.</p>