SEROPREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN MARKET HOGS COLLECTED FROM U.S. SLAUGHTERHOUSES

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Parasitology
• Food Safety
• Public Health Microbiology

Background:

• Foodborne pathogens, including Toxoplasma gondii, pose significant public health risks.
• Consumption of undercooked pork is a potential transmission route for T. gondii to humans.
• Pork products not intended for cooking, like dry-cured ham, present a risk for T. gondii transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii in U.S. market hogs and sows at the time of slaughter.
• To assess the current prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in swine populations.

Main Methods:

• Sera from 20,209 market hogs and sows across 22 U.S. slaughterhouses were tested for T. gondii antibodies using a commercial ELISA assay.
• A separate analysis compared market hogs and sows from geographically similar locations using the T. gondii modified agglutination test.
• The study included samples from 15 of the top 25 largest U.S. slaughter plants.

Main Results:

• Overall seroprevalence of T. gondii in the tested swine population was 0.74%, with a herd prevalence of 10.86%.
• Market hogs showed 0% seroprevalence in one analysis, while sows had a 1.03% seroprevalence in a separate, geographically similar cohort.
• Prevalence rates in both market hogs and sows were markedly lower than reported in previous studies.

Conclusions:

• Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in U.S. market hogs and sows is low.
• Current prevalence indicates a potential reduction in T. gondii transmission risk from pork compared to historical data.
• Continued surveillance is important for monitoring foodborne pathogen risks in swine populations.