Occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and parasite DNA in backyard chicken breeding in Northeast, Brazil.

Marcela Fernanda Torres Samico Fernandes,José Givanildo Da Silva,Erika Fernanda Torres Samico Fernandes Cavalcanti,André Da Rocha Mota,Pedro Paulo Feitosa De Albuquerque,André De Souza Santos,Débora Costa Viegas De Lima,Orestes Luiz De Souza Neto,Rinaldo Aparecido Mota

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612016012

Marcela Fernanda Torres Samico Fernandes, José Givanildo Da Silva + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-29612016012

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and parasite DNA in backyard chickens bred in the metropolitan area of Recife, Brazil. In total, 212 serum samples were collected from 16 properties, and 12 backyard chickens were collected in the six sanitary districts of Recife. An indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was used to investigate the occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect T. gondii DNA in brain, heart, liver and lung specimens. Of the samples analyzed by serology, 86/212 (40.56%) were positive; of the samples analyzed by PCR, 2/12 (16.7%) were positive, with both samples positive by both tests (serological and molecular). The presence of antibody anti-T. gondii and parasite DNA in tissues of these animals are worrying aspects for public health because there is a risk of transmission of the parasite to humans through eating undercooked or raw meat. Based on the results, the adoption of preventive measures to prevent the cats access to the chickens creations should be encouraged, since these animals were identified in most of the studied properties.

Highlights

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, is a cosmopolitan disease that infects humans and other warm-blooded species (MILLAR et al, 2012)
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan with obligatory intracellular reproduction that is capable of infecting several mammals and birds (SILVEIRA, 2010), and the main transmission route of T. gondii is through the ingestion of oocysts found in the feces of definitive hosts (DUBEY et al, 1995)
The molecular identification of the amplicons found in the present study indicated a 99% similarity with T. gondii DNA recorded in GenBank

Summary

Introduction

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, is a cosmopolitan disease that infects humans and other warm-blooded species (MILLAR et al, 2012). Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan with obligatory intracellular reproduction that is capable of infecting several mammals and birds (SILVEIRA, 2010), and the main transmission route of T. gondii is through the ingestion of oocysts found in the feces of definitive hosts (DUBEY et al, 1995). As backyard chickens are a good indicator of soil that has been contaminated with T. gondii oocysts, they are used as sentinel animals in regions with high rates of human infection (MILLAR et al, 2012). Serological studies conducted in different regions of the country have reported prevalence rates ranging from 11.18% to 78.7% (JAMRA & GUIMARÃES, 1981; FERRARONI & LACAZ, 1982; ABRAHAMS-SANDI & VARGAS-BRENES, 2005; HOLSBACK et al, 2012; ZHAO et al, 2012; IBRAHIM et al, 2014)

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