Abstract
A total of 1, 459 pigs received by 14 slaughterhouses in Saitama Prefecture were subjected to serological tests of DT, HA, and CF to clarify the distribution of toxoplasma (Tp) antibody all over the prefecture. The positive rates obtained were 21.7 per cent in DT (≥16×), 22.6 per cent in HA (≥20×), and 16.8 per cent in CF (≥4×). DT and HA were both positive in 242 head (16.6 per cent).
The Tp-positive rate among slaughtered pigs was 16.2 per cent throughout the prefecture, and 14.5 and 18.7 per cent in the northern and the southern half of the prefecture, respectively. It was 54.9 per cent in the Shirako Slaughterhouse, being significantly high as compared with the rate in any other one.
Of the nine counties of the prefecture, Kita-adachi showed the highest positive rate, being 28.1 per cent, among the pigs produced and sent to slaughterhouses, and Minarnisaitama the lowest positive rate, being 7.7 per cent.
When a total of 165 employees were examined in the 14 slaughterhouses, the positive rates were 58.2, 41.2, and 27.3 per cent in DT, HA, and CF, respectively. Both DT and HA were positive in 64 persons (38.8 per cent).
Among 18 meat inspectors, the positive rates were 33.4, 22.2 and 16.7 per cent in DT, HA and CF, respectively. Three inspectors (16.7 per cent) gave positive tests of both DT and HA. All positive reactors had been working at slaughterhouses in the southern half of the prefecture.
