Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908) is an obligate intracellular, parasitic protozoan within the phylum Apicomplexa that causes toxoplasmosis in mammalian hosts (including humans) and birds. Since meat of wild boar, Sus scrofa (Linnaeus), has been demonstrated to be a potential source of human infection, a careful evaluation of the prevalence of infection with T. gondii in hunted animals is needed to protect public health. In the Var area in southeastern France, we performed a spatio-temporal survey in order to investigate the prevalence of IgG antibodies in wild boars shot by hunters in the Canjuers military camp during two subsequent hunting seasons. Of 841 wild boars screened, antibodies (IgG) to T. gondii (modified agglutination test, cut-off 1 : 6) were found in 141 (16.8%) muscle extract samples. A significant association (p < 0.001) was found between positivity and age, but not gender, and hunting districts. The results obtained indicate that consumption of raw or undercooked meat from wild boars carries an important risk of infection with T. gondii. Wild boars may be considered as a bioindicator of parasite circulation in this ecosystem.

Highlights

  • Toxoplasmosis, the most common parasitic zoonosis worldwide, is caused by the intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908)

  • Data provided by the French National Reference Centre for Toxoplasmosis indicate that the number of congenital toxoplasmosis diagnosed every year in France is over 150 (2011, n = 186; 2012, n = 204)

  • In France, we have observed a constant and significant increase for twenty years, especially in the south

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Summary

Introduction

Toxoplasmosis, the most common parasitic zoonosis worldwide, is caused by the intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908). Information on the recent prevalence of infection with T. gondii in hunted wild boar is limited, in southeastern France, and almost non-existent for military camps. 0.6–1.4 tion with T. gondii among wild boars in the military camp at Canjuers (southeastern France).

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