PREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMOSIS IN PIGS IN THE REGION OF SOUTH BOHEMIA

The occurrence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and of T. gondi i itself were monitored in pigs in the district of Strakonice in South Bohemia Czech Republic) during 1979-1990. A total number of 2,635 sla ughter pigs were examined. The antibodies were found in 5.9% out of 2, 616 samples by Sabin-Feldman test (SFT, titre greater-than-or-equal-to 4), in 0.3% out of 1,179 samples by complement fixation test (CFT, ti tre greater-than-or-equal-to 10), and in 0.1% out of 2,306 samples by microprecipitation in agar gel (MPA). T. gondii was demonstrated in 1. 6% out of the total number of 2,447 examined animals. Altogether 57 pi gs, which were slaughtered out of the slaughterhouse, were examined, a nd the antibodies were found in 35.1% (SFT), and 14.0% (CFT). T. gondi i was detected in 10.2% of the pigs. Samples of blood serum were exami ned in 230 pigs in 10 small-scale farms. The antibodies were detected in 30.9% (SFT; out of 230 examined animals), in 9.5% (CFT; out of 158 examined animals), and in 0.5% (MPA; out of 202 examined animals). Mos t positive cases were found both by serological tests and by the isola tion of the parasite in the pigs from small-scale farms. There were sm aller numbers of positive cases from the large-scale farms with old te chnology, and the lowest number of positive cases was found in the pig s from modem large-scale farms.