Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in farm and wild animals from the area of Lublin province

Using a direct agglutination test with 2-mercaptoethanol, 971 sera from farm animals and 71 sera from wild animals living in the Lublin province (Eastern Poland) were examined for IgG Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. Seropositive results were found in 27.5% of farm animals and in 19.7% of wild animals. Antibodies were more prevalent in cattle (53.7%), cats (50.9%), and dogs (42.2%) and less prevalent in pigs (10.5%) and rabbits (7.4%). The majority of positive results were found at low titres. Seroprevalence in animals from the areas where toxoplasmosis was more prevalent in humans was statistically higher compared to the rest of the Lublin province (34.8% vs. 17.9%, P<0.0001).