Seroepidemiology of porcine toxoplasmosis: A cross-sectional study in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

BACKGROUND

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is often linked with reproductive disorders in humans and animals. Despite this, its presence in animals in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H) remains undocumented.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among domestic pigs in FB&H, assess associated risk factors for parasite transmission and provide insights into optimal management and biosafety practices for the pig industry.

METHODS

A two-phase random sampling approach was employed to select 87 pig farms across 10 administrative regions in FB&H. A total of 437 pigs were sampled and tested for anti-T. gondii antibodies using an indirect ELISA kit. Epidemiological data on potential risk factors were collected through a standardised questionnaire and analysed using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

The animal-level seroprevalence was found to be 13.3% (95% CI = 10.4-16.8), with 44.8% of farms testing positive for T. gondii (95% CI: 34.8-55.3). Identified risk factors included exposure to cats, repeated occurrences of abortions within a single breeding season, swill feeding, type of housing, and type of operation. The robust association observed between recurrent abortions and Toxoplasma seropositivity indicates a significantly greater potential involvement of T. gondii in reproductive disorders among pigs in FB&H than previously acknowledged.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides the first report on T. gondii infection in animals in FB&H, highlighting the need for further research to explore its presence in other meat animals and meat products consumed in the region. The findings underscore the importance of biosafety measures in mitigating T. gondii transmission and call for enhanced surveillance and management strategies in FB&H's pig industry.