A Collective Outbreak of Porcine Toxoplasmosis Due to Supplied Feed Supplements Contaminated with Toxoplasma Oocysts

Abstract

Porcine toxoplasmosis broke out concurrently on five farms within the jurisdiction of the Chusei Livestock Hygiene Service Center, Mie Prefecture, from November 1987 to January 1988. As the result of an investigation, feed supplements given before onset of the disease were suspected as the source of infection. When the same feed supplements were given experimentally to 3 pigs, toxoplasmosis was reproducable. These results suggest that the feed provided had been contaminated with toxoplasma oocysts, resuling in the occurrence of disease.