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A Serological Study on The Prevalence of Toxoplasma Gondii in Meat-Producing Animals in Sweden

En serologisk studie över förekomsten av Toxoplasma gondii hos köttproducerande djur i Sverige.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 25, pages 567–576 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

Sera from 200 sheep, swine and cattle, respectively, collected at slaughter at each of 3 abattoirs situated in the north, middle and south of Sweden were examined for the presence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii by the indirect fluorescent antibody test. Seropositive animals (titre ≥ 1:20) were found at the following rates from north to south: sheep 60%, 66% and 68.5%, swine 9%, 2.5% and 37%, and cattle 10%, 6 % and 35%.

The significance of the serological findings is discussed, and it is concluded that T. gondii infection is common in Swedish farm animals. Thus the meat from particularly swine and sheep may provide a potential source of human toxoplasmosis.

Sammanfattning

Sera från 200 får, svin respektive nötkreatur insamlade vid slakt på vart och ett av tre slakterier belägna i norra, mellersta och södra Sverige undersöktes med indirekt immunofluorescensteknik avseende förekomst av antikroppar mot Toxoplasma gondii. Seropositiva djur (titer ≥ 1:20) upptäcktes i en frekvens av från norr till söder för får 60 %, 66 % resp. 68.5 %, svin 9 %, 2.5 % resp. 37 % och nötkreatur 10%, 6 % resp. 35 %.

Betydelsen av fynden diskuteras, och det konstateras att Toxoplasma-infektion är vanligt förekommande hos svenska köttproducerande djur, vilket innebär att konsumtion av rått kött framför allt frän svin och fär är en potentiell smittkälla för människa.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Hygiene, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden

    A. Uggla & M. Hjort

  2. Department of Cattle and Sheep Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden

    A. Uggla & M. Hjort

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  1. A. Uggla
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  2. M. Hjort
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Uggla, A., Hjort, M. A Serological Study on The Prevalence of Toxoplasma Gondii in Meat-Producing Animals in Sweden. Acta Vet Scand 25, 567–576 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03546924

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147