Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in pigs determined by ELISA based on recombinant SAG1 in Shandong province, China.

Pigs are one of several host species for Toxoplasma gondii, and consumption of infected pork may lead to toxoplasmosis in humans. The aim of this study was to develop an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using surface antigen protein 1 (SAG1) of T. gondii for the diagnosis of porcine toxoplasmosis and to perform a serological investigation of pigs in Shandong province, China. A total of 1170 serum samples were collected from 14 cities, and 244 of them (20.85%) were positive. In different areas, the prevalence ranged from 15.63% to 22.98%, which had a significant differentiation. Among the different populations, gestating sows had the highest seroprevalence (25.7%), followed by breeding boars (22.7%), replacement gilts (21.1%), fattening pigs (18.3%) and piglets (17.1%). The rearing environment was also a determinant of seroprevalence, including family farmers (25.5%), large farmers (15.2%) and small farms (22.8%). This study provides information on the seroepidemiological study of T. gondii in pigs in Shandong province, which will be useful in developing strategies for the control of T. gondii infection in pigs.