Detection anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in swines bred and abated in the Bahia State, Brazil

This study was performed to verify the occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in swine raised and slaughtered in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Four hundred sixty five swine blood samples from farms of different cities had been collected and examined. Anti-T. gondii antibodies was detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and considered positive all the animals with equal or bigger headings than 1:16. From these, 18.27% (85/465) of total sample were positive for T gondii, 30.76% (24) in Ilheus, 18.10% (21/116) in Itabuna and 14.76% (40/271) in Simoes Filho. Significant differences were observed regarding animal sex (p = 0.0171), raising system (p = 0.0002) and origin of the animals (p = 0.0278) in the city of Itabuna. The occurrence of anti-T. gondii antibodies shows that swine can be a source of infection for the local human population.