High Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Slovenian Wild Boars (Sus scrofa)

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite of great public health concern. Wild boars could be considered an emerging source of toxoplasmosis in humans due to the popularity of venison and their increasing population. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii in the Slovenian wild boar population and evaluate risk factors for human infection. Of 353 samples, 62% were positive for T. gondii using ELISA tests. This is the highest T. gondii seroprevalence reported to date in wild boar worldwide. The increase in prevalence with increasing age (p = 0.003) and weight (p = 0.002) were statistically significant, whereas gender was not (p = 0.781). Odds for being T. gondii-positive increased with age with the largest difference being between 2-3-year-old and 1-2-year-old animals (OR = 2.66, 95%CI: 1.03-6.85). Animals weighing 20-40 kg had a higher risk than animals weighing 0-20 kg (OR = 2.74, 95%CI: 1.21-6.20), whereas a further increase in the weight was not associated with increasing the odds. Due to the high Toxoplasma prevalence, the study concluded that the risk of exposure to T. gondii from handling raw or undercooked wild boar meat is high. Surveillance protocols should be established at the national level together with increased awareness within the hunting community.

Keywords: ELISA; Toxoplasma gondii; game meat; wild boar; zoonosis.

Figure 1

Seroprevalence of T. gondii in Slovenian wild boar (%). Regions (R): R1—obalno kraska, R2—goriska, R3—primorsko notranjska, R4—osrednjeslovenska, R5—gorenjska, R6—jugovzhodna Slovenija, R7—posavska, R8—zasavska, R9—savinjska, R10—podravska, R11—pomurska, R12—koroska.