RT Journal Article
T1 An inactivated vaccine against acquired Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigs as a tool to minimize the zoonotic transmission risk
A1 Largo-de la Torre, Andrea
A1 Sánchez Sánchez, Roberto
A1 Diezma Díaz, Carlos
A1 Ferré Pérez, Ignacio
A1 Regidor-Cerrillo, Javier
A1 Ortega Mora, Luis Miguel
AB Toxoplasma gondii, a zoonotic protozoan parasite, represents a major threat to public health and food safety worldwide, particularly through the consumption of undercooked or raw pork containing tissue cysts. Controlling T. gondii infection in pigs is therefore critical to reduce zoonotic transmission. This study evaluated a novel inactivated vaccine formulated with antigens from the Type III TgPigSp1 isolate, comprising both tachyzoite and bradyzoite stages, and adjuvanted with Quil-A. Safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy were assessed first in a murine model as proof of concept and subsequently in piglets challenged with 1000 oocysts of the heterologous Type II-PRU TgShSp1 isolate. The vaccine showed no systemic adverse effects in either model, and an absence of local reactions was observed in piglets. In mice, vaccination elicited strong parasite-specific IgG responses and significantly reduced the parasite burden in brain and muscle tissues by more than 80%. In piglets, robust humoral and cellular immune responses were induced, as evidenced by elevated IgG and IFN-γ levels after the booster vaccination. Following challenge, the parasite load was reduced by ≥ 95% in target muscles, and viable T. gondii cysts were undetectable in at least 50% of vaccinated animals, as confirmed by bioassay. Molecular detection methods further supported the significant reduction in the parasite DNA content. These results indicate that this inactivated multistage vaccine represents a safe, immunogenic, and effective strategy to reduce tissue cyst formation and offer a promising tool within a One Health approach to improve food safety and reduce the burden of toxoplasmosis in both animal and human populations.
PB BioMed Central
SN 0928-4249
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/126077
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/126077
LA eng
NO Largo-de la Torre, A., Sánchez-Sánchez, R., Diezma-Díaz, C., Ferre, I., Regidor-Cerrillo, J., & Ortega-Mora, L. M. (2025). An inactivated vaccine against acquired Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigs as a tool to minimize the zoonotic transmission risk. Veterinary research, 56(1), 206. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-025-01645-2
NO Authors contributions: LMO-M, JR-C, and AL-T conceived the study and participated in its design. AL-T, CD-D, and RS-S participated in the inoculation and clinical examination of animals, performed necropsies, and conducted sampling. IF and RS-S car  ried out the oocyst production. AL-T and JR-C analyzed the data, performed statistical analyses, and interpreted the results. AL-T wrote the original draft of the manuscript, with result interpretation, and RS-S, IF, JR-C, and LMO-M reviewed and edited it. All authors read and approved the fnal manuscript
NO Comunidad de Madrid
NO European Commission
NO Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades ( España )
NO Instituto de Salud Carlos III
DS Docta Complutense
RD 26 feb 2026