Human toxoplasmosis is an infection that has multiple sources: consumption of pork and lamb, water, and handling cat litter and garden soil. While some are, many are not related to livestock ...production methods. Therefore, there are weak market signals to farmers to change pig production systems, even when there are clear data indicating that pig confinement systems significantly lower the probability of pork being contaminated with the parasite,
Toxoplasma gondii. We investigated cost differences for pig production systems. While confinement buildings are more expensive, these costs are offset by the greater feed and bedding costs in non-confinement production. There is a “slight cost advantage” of $0.31 per hundred weight for pigs produced in a confinement system.
This study investigates if women of childbearing age (pregnant and nonpregnant) engage in behaviors that may increase their risk of exposure to Toxoplasma gondii and how these behaviors differ ...between age groups. Risky behaviors were identified as activities that could result in accidental ingestion of either the tissue stage in edible portions of meat or the environmental oocyst stage shed in feline feces. Serum samples and interview data were collected by a convenience sampling of 829 women between 18–53 years. The seroprevalence of T. gondii was 7.0%. Most women, 93.7%, were meat eaters with 8.7–50.2% preferring to eat some meats less than well-done. Those in the age groups of 18–24 years were more likely to eat meat less than well-done compared to most older age groups, Those 18–19 years old were more likely not always to wash vegetables and fruits before eating or wash hands before handling or eating food. Most women, 56.8%, garden at least occasionally, with those 30 years and older more likely to garden. Analysis of the behaviors of seronegative women (93.0%) show that many women may engage in more than one of these risky behaviors. In addition to published recommendations, educational programs for the prevention of T. gondii during pregnancy need to reinforce the importance of consuming only well-done meats, washing fruits and vegetables, and hand washing to reduce risk of exposure to tissue cysts and oocysts to 18–24 year olds. In women more likely to garden, >30 years old, the risk of oocyst exposure needs to be emphasized. These behaviors should be emphasized during prenatal classes. Risky behaviors for T. gondii infection were evaluated using the odds ratio; however, the data collected in this cross-sectional study cannot be used to prove a causal relationship between specific behaviors and T. gondii seropositivity. Time is a confounding factor in the analysis because chronic infections cannot be attributed to current behavior. The modified agglutination test was used as the screening tool to detect IgG antibodies to T. gondii.
Human toxoplasmosis is an infection that has multiple sources: consumption of pork and lamb, water, and handling cat litter and garden soil. While some are, many are not related to livestock ...production methods. Therefore, there are weak market signals to farmers to change pig production systems, even when there are clear data indicating that pig confinement systems significantly lower the probability of pork being contaminated with the parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. We investigated cost differences for pig production systems. While confinement buildings are more expensive, these costs are offset by the greater feed and bedding costs in non-confinement production. There is a "slight cost advantage" of $0.31 per hundred weight for pigs produced in a confinement system.
Serum samples were collected from 3236 sows and 4712 market hogs in 1995. Sera were collected from sows on 226 farms, while market hog sera was obtained from 282 farms. Herds were randomly selected ...to participate in the 1995 National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) swine survey. Sera were assayed for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii using the modified direct agglutination test. Herd data and serologic information were used to study the association between T. gondii infection in sows and specific herd characteristics and farm management practices. Overall, 15.1 percent of sows and 3.2 percent of finishers were positive for toxoplasmosis. Analysis of the data showed significant associations between toxoplasmosis in sows or herds and three factors: 1) method of rodent control, 2) type of production facility, and 3) access of cats to production facilities. In particular, seronegativity was associated with the use of "bait and/or traps only" for rodent control as compared to the use of cats for rodent control. Thus, use of cats as a method of rodent control should be avoided by producers. No regional differences in prevalence were detected and toxoplasmosis in sows was not associated with a reduced level of reproductive performance.
Serum samples were collected from 3236 sows and 4712 market hogs in 1995. Sera were collected from sows on 226 farms, while market hog sera was obtained from 282 farms. Herds were randomly selected ...to participate in the 1995 National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) swine survey. Sera were assayed for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii using the modified direct agglutination test. Herd data and serologic information were used to study the association between T. gondii infection in sows and specific herd characteristics and farm management practices. Overall, 15.1 percent of sows and 3.2 percent of finishers were positive for toxoplasmosis. Analysis of the data showed significant associations between toxoplasmosis in sows or herds and three factors: 1) method of rodent control, 2) type of production facility, and 3) access of cats to production facilities. In particular, seronegativity was associated with the use of "bait and/or traps only" for rodent control as compared to the use of cats for rodent control. Thus, use of cats as a method of rodent control should be avoided by producers. No regional differences in prevalence were detected and toxoplasmosis in sows was not associated with a reduced level of reproductive performance.
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