Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in free-ranging moose (Alces alces) hunted for human consumption in Estonia:Indicator host species for environmental Toxoplasma gondii oocyst contamination
In Estonia, northeastern Europe, antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii are common in many host species, including wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. Our nationwide study aimed to estimate T. gondii seroprevalence and its geographical distribution, and to evaluate plausible risk factors for serop...
Published in: | Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2018
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://curis.ku.dk/portal/da/publications/toxoplasma-gondii-seroprevalence-in-freeranging-moose-alces-alces-hunted-for-human-consumption-in-estonia(d65ae4b1-de61-43a9-a954-742117107d6c).html https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2017.11.001 |
id |
ftcopenhagenunip:oai:pure.atira.dk:publications/d65ae4b1-de61-43a9-a954-742117107d6c |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftcopenhagenunip:oai:pure.atira.dk:publications/d65ae4b1-de61-43a9-a954-742117107d6c 2024-04-14T08:00:31+00:00 Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in free-ranging moose (Alces alces) hunted for human consumption in Estonia:Indicator host species for environmental Toxoplasma gondii oocyst contamination Remes, Noora Kärssin, Age Must, Kärt Tagel, Maarja Lassen, Brian Jokelainen, Pikka 2018-01 https://curis.ku.dk/portal/da/publications/toxoplasma-gondii-seroprevalence-in-freeranging-moose-alces-alces-hunted-for-human-consumption-in-estonia(d65ae4b1-de61-43a9-a954-742117107d6c).html https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2017.11.001 eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess Remes , N , Kärssin , A , Must , K , Tagel , M , Lassen , B & Jokelainen , P 2018 , ' Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in free-ranging moose (Alces alces) hunted for human consumption in Estonia : Indicator host species for environmental Toxoplasma gondii oocyst contamination ' , Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports , vol. 11 , pp. 6-11 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2017.11.001 Cervid Geographical pattern Hunting Serology Toxoplasmosis Zoonosis article 2018 ftcopenhagenunip https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2017.11.001 2024-03-21T17:28:08Z In Estonia, northeastern Europe, antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii are common in many host species, including wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. Our nationwide study aimed to estimate T. gondii seroprevalence and its geographical distribution, and to evaluate plausible risk factors for seropositivity in free-ranging moose (Alces alces) hunted for human consumption in 2015. We screened sera or plasma from 463 moose for presence of anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies with a commercial direct agglutination test, using a cut-off titer 40 for seropositivity. Altogether 111 moose tested seropositive, yielding a seroprevalence estimate of 23.97%. Seropositive moose were detected in all the 13 counties where the samples originated from. Based on a multivariable logistic regression model, ‘being female’, ‘being adult’, and ‘being from the northern part of the country’ were significant risk factors, with odds ratios of 2.91, 3.07, and 3.11, respectively, and there was interaction between the variables ‘being female’ and ‘being from the northern part of the country’. A substantial proportion of the moose investigated had been exposed to T. gondii. Presence of the parasite in edible tissues of the moose was not shown in the present study, but moose hunted in Estonia should be considered a potential T. gondii infection source to other hosts, including humans. Seropositivity indicates previous exposure, and because the seroprevalence was higher in adults than in calves and because moose are herbivores, the exposure was likely exposure to and ingestion of T. gondii oocysts. The results can thus be interpreted to indicate that the environment in Estonia was widely contaminated with T. gondii oocysts, in particular in the northern part of the country. Investigation of samples from a free-ranging herbivorous host that is hunted in large numbers appears useful in revealing environmental distribution patterns of T. gondii. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces University of Copenhagen: Research Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports 11 6 11 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Copenhagen: Research |
op_collection_id |
ftcopenhagenunip |
language |
English |
topic |
Cervid Geographical pattern Hunting Serology Toxoplasmosis Zoonosis |
spellingShingle |
Cervid Geographical pattern Hunting Serology Toxoplasmosis Zoonosis Remes, Noora Kärssin, Age Must, Kärt Tagel, Maarja Lassen, Brian Jokelainen, Pikka Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in free-ranging moose (Alces alces) hunted for human consumption in Estonia:Indicator host species for environmental Toxoplasma gondii oocyst contamination |
topic_facet |
Cervid Geographical pattern Hunting Serology Toxoplasmosis Zoonosis |
description |
In Estonia, northeastern Europe, antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii are common in many host species, including wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. Our nationwide study aimed to estimate T. gondii seroprevalence and its geographical distribution, and to evaluate plausible risk factors for seropositivity in free-ranging moose (Alces alces) hunted for human consumption in 2015. We screened sera or plasma from 463 moose for presence of anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies with a commercial direct agglutination test, using a cut-off titer 40 for seropositivity. Altogether 111 moose tested seropositive, yielding a seroprevalence estimate of 23.97%. Seropositive moose were detected in all the 13 counties where the samples originated from. Based on a multivariable logistic regression model, ‘being female’, ‘being adult’, and ‘being from the northern part of the country’ were significant risk factors, with odds ratios of 2.91, 3.07, and 3.11, respectively, and there was interaction between the variables ‘being female’ and ‘being from the northern part of the country’. A substantial proportion of the moose investigated had been exposed to T. gondii. Presence of the parasite in edible tissues of the moose was not shown in the present study, but moose hunted in Estonia should be considered a potential T. gondii infection source to other hosts, including humans. Seropositivity indicates previous exposure, and because the seroprevalence was higher in adults than in calves and because moose are herbivores, the exposure was likely exposure to and ingestion of T. gondii oocysts. The results can thus be interpreted to indicate that the environment in Estonia was widely contaminated with T. gondii oocysts, in particular in the northern part of the country. Investigation of samples from a free-ranging herbivorous host that is hunted in large numbers appears useful in revealing environmental distribution patterns of T. gondii. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Remes, Noora Kärssin, Age Must, Kärt Tagel, Maarja Lassen, Brian Jokelainen, Pikka |
author_facet |
Remes, Noora Kärssin, Age Must, Kärt Tagel, Maarja Lassen, Brian Jokelainen, Pikka |
author_sort |
Remes, Noora |
title |
Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in free-ranging moose (Alces alces) hunted for human consumption in Estonia:Indicator host species for environmental Toxoplasma gondii oocyst contamination |
title_short |
Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in free-ranging moose (Alces alces) hunted for human consumption in Estonia:Indicator host species for environmental Toxoplasma gondii oocyst contamination |
title_full |
Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in free-ranging moose (Alces alces) hunted for human consumption in Estonia:Indicator host species for environmental Toxoplasma gondii oocyst contamination |
title_fullStr |
Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in free-ranging moose (Alces alces) hunted for human consumption in Estonia:Indicator host species for environmental Toxoplasma gondii oocyst contamination |
title_full_unstemmed |
Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in free-ranging moose (Alces alces) hunted for human consumption in Estonia:Indicator host species for environmental Toxoplasma gondii oocyst contamination |
title_sort |
toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in free-ranging moose (alces alces) hunted for human consumption in estonia:indicator host species for environmental toxoplasma gondii oocyst contamination |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://curis.ku.dk/portal/da/publications/toxoplasma-gondii-seroprevalence-in-freeranging-moose-alces-alces-hunted-for-human-consumption-in-estonia(d65ae4b1-de61-43a9-a954-742117107d6c).html https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2017.11.001 |
genre |
Alces alces |
genre_facet |
Alces alces |
op_source |
Remes , N , Kärssin , A , Must , K , Tagel , M , Lassen , B & Jokelainen , P 2018 , ' Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in free-ranging moose (Alces alces) hunted for human consumption in Estonia : Indicator host species for environmental Toxoplasma gondii oocyst contamination ' , Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports , vol. 11 , pp. 6-11 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2017.11.001 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2017.11.001 |
container_title |
Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports |
container_volume |
11 |
container_start_page |
6 |
op_container_end_page |
11 |
_version_ |
1796301272806064128 |