TY  - JOUR
AU  - Uzelac, Aleksandra
AU  - Betić, Nikola
AU  - Karabasil, Nedjeljko
AU  - Ćirković, Vladimir
AU  - Djurković-Djaković, Olgica
AU  - Klun, Ivana
PY  - 2023
UR  - https://vet-erinar.vet.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3136
AB  - As pork is an important source for Toxoplasma gondii infection, we have analyzed T. gondii
genotypes and toxoplasmosis prevalence in pigs in Serbia in the context of production statistics and
economics to assess the specific risk to public health. Genotyping was performed using MnPCRRFLP; T. gondii-specific IgG antibodies were detected using a modified agglutination test (MAT);
and statistical data were extracted from official records and provided by government authorities.
The results indicate that, from 2006 to 2021, the median number of annually slaughtered pigs
was 5.6 million, yet only 36.1% were processed by abattoirs. The remainder were “backyard pigs”
slaughtered on family farms and homesteads. Toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in market-weight (MW)
pigs prior to 2006 was 15.2%, and was 15.1% in 2019. The seroprevalence in owned city cats, likely
infected by livestock meat, was 33.2%. ToxoDB#1 was identified in pig tissues. The results indicate
that backyard pigs are the backbone of the industry and provide as much as 60% of the pork in
Serbia. The seroprevalence in pigs and city cats shows that farms are reservoirs for the parasite. Thus,
innovative means of reducing T. gondii infection designed with backyard farmers in mind are needed
to reduce the risk to public health.
PB  - MDPI
T2  - Microorganisms
T1  - A Pork Industry in the Backyard: An Analysis of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Serbia’s Pigs
VL  - 11
IS  - 7
SP  - 1857
DO  - 10.3390/microorganisms11071857
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Uzelac, Aleksandra and Betić, Nikola and Karabasil, Nedjeljko and Ćirković, Vladimir and Djurković-Djaković, Olgica and Klun, Ivana",
year = "2023",
abstract = "As pork is an important source for Toxoplasma gondii infection, we have analyzed T. gondii
genotypes and toxoplasmosis prevalence in pigs in Serbia in the context of production statistics and
economics to assess the specific risk to public health. Genotyping was performed using MnPCRRFLP; T. gondii-specific IgG antibodies were detected using a modified agglutination test (MAT);
and statistical data were extracted from official records and provided by government authorities.
The results indicate that, from 2006 to 2021, the median number of annually slaughtered pigs
was 5.6 million, yet only 36.1% were processed by abattoirs. The remainder were “backyard pigs”
slaughtered on family farms and homesteads. Toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in market-weight (MW)
pigs prior to 2006 was 15.2%, and was 15.1% in 2019. The seroprevalence in owned city cats, likely
infected by livestock meat, was 33.2%. ToxoDB#1 was identified in pig tissues. The results indicate
that backyard pigs are the backbone of the industry and provide as much as 60% of the pork in
Serbia. The seroprevalence in pigs and city cats shows that farms are reservoirs for the parasite. Thus,
innovative means of reducing T. gondii infection designed with backyard farmers in mind are needed
to reduce the risk to public health.",
publisher = "MDPI",
journal = "Microorganisms",
title = "A Pork Industry in the Backyard: An Analysis of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Serbia’s Pigs",
volume = "11",
number = "7",
pages = "1857",
doi = "10.3390/microorganisms11071857"
}

Uzelac, A., Betić, N., Karabasil, N., Ćirković, V., Djurković-Djaković, O.,& Klun, I.. (2023). A Pork Industry in the Backyard: An Analysis of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Serbia’s Pigs. in Microorganisms
MDPI., 11(7), 1857.
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11071857

Uzelac A, Betić N, Karabasil N, Ćirković V, Djurković-Djaković O, Klun I. A Pork Industry in the Backyard: An Analysis of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Serbia’s Pigs. in Microorganisms. 2023;11(7):1857.
doi:10.3390/microorganisms11071857 .

Uzelac, Aleksandra, Betić, Nikola, Karabasil, Nedjeljko, Ćirković, Vladimir, Djurković-Djaković, Olgica, Klun, Ivana, "A Pork Industry in the Backyard: An Analysis of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Serbia’s Pigs" in Microorganisms, 11, no. 7 (2023):1857,
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11071857 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Betić, Nikola
AU  - Karabasil, Nedjeljko
AU  - Djurković-Djaković, Olgica
AU  - Ćirković, Vladimir
AU  - Bobić, Branko
AU  - Branković Lazić, Ivana
AU  - Djordjević, Vesna
AU  - Klun, Ivana
PY  - 2022
UR  - https://vet-erinar.vet.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2464
AB  - Consumption of Toxoplasma gondii contaminated pork is a major risk factor for human infection. We thus conducted a cross-sectional survey on the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in a representative sample of slaughter pigs from throughout Serbia and examined the influence of farm biosecurity-related risk factors on infection. In addition, direct detection of the parasite (by mouse bioassay) or its DNA was performed in the hearts of a subset of seropositive sows. The overall seroprevalence in the sample of 825 pigs as determined by the modified agglutination test (MAT) was 16.5%. Older age and inadequate rodent control were independent infection risk factors for pigs. In a subset of 581 pigs with complete biosecurity-related data, in addition to older age, smallholders’ finishing type farms (as opposed to farrow-to-finish), multispecies farming, and origin from Western and Central and South-Eastern Serbia (vs. the Northern region), all increased the risk of infection, while the absence of disinfection boot-dips in front of each barn and Belgrade district origin (vs. the Northern region) were associated with a 62% and 75% lower risk of infection, respectively. Evidence of viable parasites was obtained in 13 (41.9%) of the 31 bioassayed sow hearts, of which by isolation of brain cysts in seven, by detection of T. gondii DNA in an additional four, and by serology in another two. Recovery of brain cysts mostly (5/7) from sows with a MAT titre of ≥1:100 indicates the risk for consumers. These results highlight the public health risk from pork consumption and point to mandatory use of professional rodent control services, abstaining from multispecies farming, keeping disinfection boot-dips clean and freshly refilled, as well as strict implementation of zoo-hygienic measures on smallholders’ farms as specific farm biosecurity measures needed for its reduction.
PB  - MDPI
T2  - Microorganisms
T1  - Seroprevalence, Direct Detection and Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Pigs in Serbia, and Influence of Biosecurity Measures
VL  - 10
IS  - 5
SP  - 1069
DO  - 10.3390/microorganisms10051069
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Betić, Nikola and Karabasil, Nedjeljko and Djurković-Djaković, Olgica and Ćirković, Vladimir and Bobić, Branko and Branković Lazić, Ivana and Djordjević, Vesna and Klun, Ivana",
year = "2022",
abstract = "Consumption of Toxoplasma gondii contaminated pork is a major risk factor for human infection. We thus conducted a cross-sectional survey on the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in a representative sample of slaughter pigs from throughout Serbia and examined the influence of farm biosecurity-related risk factors on infection. In addition, direct detection of the parasite (by mouse bioassay) or its DNA was performed in the hearts of a subset of seropositive sows. The overall seroprevalence in the sample of 825 pigs as determined by the modified agglutination test (MAT) was 16.5%. Older age and inadequate rodent control were independent infection risk factors for pigs. In a subset of 581 pigs with complete biosecurity-related data, in addition to older age, smallholders’ finishing type farms (as opposed to farrow-to-finish), multispecies farming, and origin from Western and Central and South-Eastern Serbia (vs. the Northern region), all increased the risk of infection, while the absence of disinfection boot-dips in front of each barn and Belgrade district origin (vs. the Northern region) were associated with a 62% and 75% lower risk of infection, respectively. Evidence of viable parasites was obtained in 13 (41.9%) of the 31 bioassayed sow hearts, of which by isolation of brain cysts in seven, by detection of T. gondii DNA in an additional four, and by serology in another two. Recovery of brain cysts mostly (5/7) from sows with a MAT titre of ≥1:100 indicates the risk for consumers. These results highlight the public health risk from pork consumption and point to mandatory use of professional rodent control services, abstaining from multispecies farming, keeping disinfection boot-dips clean and freshly refilled, as well as strict implementation of zoo-hygienic measures on smallholders’ farms as specific farm biosecurity measures needed for its reduction.",
publisher = "MDPI",
journal = "Microorganisms",
title = "Seroprevalence, Direct Detection and Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Pigs in Serbia, and Influence of Biosecurity Measures",
volume = "10",
number = "5",
pages = "1069",
doi = "10.3390/microorganisms10051069"
}

Betić, N., Karabasil, N., Djurković-Djaković, O., Ćirković, V., Bobić, B., Branković Lazić, I., Djordjević, V.,& Klun, I.. (2022). Seroprevalence, Direct Detection and Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Pigs in Serbia, and Influence of Biosecurity Measures. in Microorganisms
MDPI., 10(5), 1069.
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10051069

Betić N, Karabasil N, Djurković-Djaković O, Ćirković V, Bobić B, Branković Lazić I, Djordjević V, Klun I. Seroprevalence, Direct Detection and Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Pigs in Serbia, and Influence of Biosecurity Measures. in Microorganisms. 2022;10(5):1069.
doi:10.3390/microorganisms10051069 .

Betić, Nikola, Karabasil, Nedjeljko, Djurković-Djaković, Olgica, Ćirković, Vladimir, Bobić, Branko, Branković Lazić, Ivana, Djordjević, Vesna, Klun, Ivana, "Seroprevalence, Direct Detection and Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Pigs in Serbia, and Influence of Biosecurity Measures" in Microorganisms, 10, no. 5 (2022):1069,
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10051069 . .