Publication details
The factors important for transmission of T. gondii infection on rabbit farms and risk of human infection from consumation of rabbit meat in northenrn Italy
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2014 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Animals, 5th International Scientific Conference |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Animal diseases, veterinary medicine |
| Keywords | parasite T. gondii; rabbits; risk factors of infection |
| Description | In Italy, rabbits are frequently reared for meat production. The aim of the study was to find out seroprevalence of T. gondii to recognize risk factors of infection in rabbits and risk of toxoplasmosis from consumption of rabbit meat in humans. Blood samples from 260 apparently healthy breeding rabbits were collected on 13 commercial rabbit farms in Northern Italy, Veneto region (provinces of Padova, Rovigo, Treviso and Verona). Rabbits (females) were divided into categories according to their age (2 – 30 months), number of births (0 – 15), breed (Hyla, Hycole, Grimaud , Hybrid), province (Padova, Rovigo, Treviso and Verona) and size of farm (small and large with less or more than 1000 does). Samples were tested for antibodies against T. gondii using the IFAT method; samples with a titre greather then 50 were considered positive. Antibodies against T. gondii were found in 38 (14.6 %) rabbits. Statistically significant difference (p-value less then 0.05) was found in T. gondii prevalence among different breeds and provinces. This is the first serological study focused on T. gondii seroprevalence in rabbits from Italy. |