Abstract
BackgroundToxoplasma gondii infection is a global concern, affecting a wide range of warm-blooded animals and humans worldwide, including poultry. Domestic and companion birds are considered to play an important role in the transmission of T. gondii to humans and other animals. However, little information on T. gondii infection in domestic birds in Lanzhou, northwest China was available. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in domestic birds in Lanzhou, northwest China.MethodsIn the present study, the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies in 413 (305 caged and 108 free-range) adult chickens, 334 (111 caged and 223 free-range) adult ducks and 312 adult pigeons in Lanzhou, northwest China, were examined using the modified agglutination test (MAT).Results30 (7.26%) chickens, 38 (11.38%) ducks and 37 (11.86%) pigeons were found to be positive for T. gondii antibodies at the cut-off of 1:5. The prevalences in caged and free-range chickens were 6.23% and 10.19% respectively, however, statistical analysis showed that the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). The seroprevalences in caged and free-range ducks were 6.31% and 13.90% respectively, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).ConclusionsThe results of the present survey indicated the presence of T. gondii infection in adult chickens, ducks and pigeons sold for meat in poultry markets in Lanzhou, northwest China, which poses a potential risk for T. gondii infection in humans and other animals in this region. This is the first seroprevalence study of T. gondii infection in domestic birds in this region.
Highlights
Toxoplasma gondii infection is a global concern, affecting a wide range of warm-blooded animals and humans worldwide, including poultry
T. gondii infection is generally transmitted either congenitally, or via ingestion of undercooked or raw meat from infected animals, or ingestion of food or water contaminated with oocysts excreted by infected felids [1,2,4]
Blood samples A total of 413 blood samples from adult chickens, 334 blood samples from adult ducks and 312 blood samples from adult pigeons were collected from animals slaughtered and sold for meat in four poultry markets in Lanzhou, northwest China between April and November 2011
Summary
Toxoplasma gondii infection is a global concern, affecting a wide range of warm-blooded animals and humans worldwide, including poultry. Little information on T. gondii infection in domestic birds in Lanzhou, northwest China was available. This study was performed to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in domestic birds in Lanzhou, northwest China. Toxoplasma gondii is an important intracellular protozoan parasite, widely prevalent in humans and animals, including poultry throughout the world [1,2,3]. Seroprevalence studies of T. gondii in chickens, ducks and pigeons have been conducted extensively in various parts of the world [1,2,5,6,7], there have been some surveys in mainland China [8,9,10]. We report T. gondii seroprevalence in domestic birds in Lanzhou, northwest China for the first time
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