# Toxoplasma gondii in Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) in Germany: Serological Screening from Thuringia

## TL;DR

This study found that nearly 40% of wild boars in Germany had antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, suggesting a risk of infection for people who eat undercooked game meat.

## Contribution

The study reports a 37.5% seroprevalence of T. gondii in wild boars from Thuringia, Germany, highlighting a public health risk.

## Key findings

- 18 out of 42 wild boars tested positive for T. gondii antibodies.
- Higher seroprevalence was observed in adult wild boars.
- The study emphasizes the need for a nationwide database to assess infection risks.

## Abstract

Parasites can be transmitted from animals to humans by consumption of undercooked meat. One of these parasites is Toxoplasma gondii, a unicellular parasite that could cause severe disease in immunocompromised patients and foetal problems during pregnancy. T. gondii can be found in wild boar meat and be a source of infection for humans, particularly hunters and their inner circle of acquaintances. We tested serum samples of 42 free-ranging wild boars from Thuringia in central Germany during the hunting season of 2017/2018 and were able to detect antibodies against T. gondii in 18 of these animals (37.50%). The explicit prevalence of T. gondii specific antibodies points towards a risk of toxoplasmosis for people consuming game meat, particularly when it is not properly cooked. The hunting community as well as authorities should be aware of such possible exposures and infections. Additional studies among free-ranging wild boars would help to obtain more prevalence data from other areas of Germany and to better estimate the actual risk of T. gondii infection among the hunting community and game meat consumers’ interface.

Game meat is an important source of meat borne parasitic infections. Due to its omnivorous diet, the wild boar is an important host of zoonotic parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii. T. gondii can cause severe to fatal disease in immunosuppressed patients, as well as congenital disorders in foetus and neonates. Consumption of undercooked infected meat is a main source of T. gondii infection. Information about the risk of toxoplasmosis through game meat is scarce. We collected serum samples from 42 wild boars from the federal state of Thuringia (Germany) between December 2017 and February 2018. Identification of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies was conducted using a commercial indirect ELISA kit. Seropositivity was confirmed in 18 of the 42 samples (37.50%). From these, the highest seroprevalence was found in adult animals. This study joins another single database from wild boars in Brandenburg. The necessity of a country-wide database regarding T. gondii prevalence in wild boar and other game meat is pivotal for a profound risk analysis with its consequential impact in future mean hygiene policies.