The Prevalence Rate of Infection to Toxoplasma Gondii in Domestic and Industrial Breeding Poultry in Isfahan City, Iran, 2020

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a pathogenic and zoonotic parasite, which felines implicate as definitive hosts; intermediate hosts are warm-blooded vertebrates. The protozoa can cause serious symptoms in humans, while in poultry is usually asymptomatic. The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in poultry due to the way poultry are fed is an important indicator of the distribution of oocysts in the environment; in addition, consumption of raw or under cooked meat of chickens can cause infection in human and other animals. Therefore, in this study, the prevalence rate of infection to toxoplasma gondii in domestic and industrial breeding poultry in Isfahan City, Iran, was assessed.

From three groups of domestic breeding, broiler, and laying eggs poultry, 60 blood clot samples were collected. On collected serums, serological modified agglutination test (MAT) was performed. Toxoplasma gondii-specific antibodies were assayed by this test. Then, the obtained results were analyzed.

By performing the MAT serological test, 20, 15, and 30 samples were positive in domestic breeding, industrial broiler, and in laying eggs samples, respectively. Therefore, relative frequency was 33.3, 25.0, and 50.0 percent in domestic breeding, industrial broiler, and industrial laying eggs, respectively, which by performing chi-square test and calculating the P < 0.050 between the three groups, a significant difference was observed serologically.

A considerable percent of domestic and industrial poultry was infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Therefore, preventive measures should be conducted to provide safe foods for vertebrate animals and human. </div