Toxoplasmosis in piglets

Abstract

Extract

Ovine toxoplasmosis is of importance in New Zealand where it is recognized as the most common cause of intrauterine infection leading to abortion and stillbirths (Hartley and Boyes, 1964 Hartley, W. J. and Boyes, Betty W. 1964. Incidence of ovine perinatal mortality in New Zealand with particular reference to intrauterine infections. N.Z. vet. J., 12: 33–36. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]). Although clinical disease is rare in humans, serological evidence shows a high incidence of subclinical infection with 50% of New Zealand adults over 40 years of age showing positive titres (Manning and Reid, 1956 Manning, J. D. and Reid, J. D. 1956. Toxoplasmosis in New Zealand. A serological survey. N.Z. med. J., 55: 441–447. [PubMed] , [Google Scholar]). There is, however, a paucity of information on the disease incidence in other species in this country. Hartley (1956) Hartley, W. J. 1956. Some observations on canine toxoplasmosis. N.Z. vet. J., 4: 115–118. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar] has recorded toxoplasmosis in dogs and fowls. Pneumonia in a pig associated with Toxoplasma gondii was described by Shortridge and Smith (1964) Shortridge, E. H. and Smith, B. 1964. Toxoplasmosis in a pig in New Zealand. N.Z. vet. J., 12: 118–120. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar] while, more recently, Shortridge (1968) Shortridge, E. H. 1968. Toxoplasmosis in cats in New Zealand. N.Z. vet. J., 16: 129–130. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar] noted two cases of feline toxoplasmosis. This present communication concerns an outbreak of acute toxoplasmosis in several piglets.