Toxoplasma gondii infection in Polish farmed mink.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in Polish farmed mink according to way of feeding as well as to confirm the role of toxoplasmosis in reproductive losses in mink farms. The serological examinations were carried out on 961 mink randomly selected from 12 Polish farms. Blood sera were examined for the presence of T. gondii antibodies with the use of the latex agglutination test. The examinations for the presence of T. gondii in organ tissues were performed on five neonatal mink kits with the use of immunofluorescence method. In total 133 (13.9%) out of 961 examined mink had T. gondii antibodies. In large farms the seropositivity was lower (2.9%), than in small farms (26.33%) (P < 0.001). Significant difference was found in seroprevalence according to way of feeding. In farms feeding fish, percentage of seropositivity was lower (2.2%), than in farms based on non-frozen slaughter offal (43.4%). Titres of T. gondii antibodies were usually lower than 120 IU/ml. Using the immunofluorescence method, T. gondii was detected in impression smears from liver and brain of two neonatal mink kits derived from one seropositive female.