Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in wild boars (Sus scrofa) in the Slovak Republic

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite of great medical and veterinary importance. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in wild boars hunted in the Slovak Republic in 2003. Examination of 320 wild boars revealed a seroprevalence of 8.1%. The majority of seropositive wild boars came from the north-western and southern regions of Slovakia. This study indicates that T. gondii infection is common in wild boars in the Slovak Republic, underlines its zoonotic potential and the importance of high standards of hygiene during the handling of game.