Seroprevalence of <it>Toxoplasma gondii</it> infection in slaughtered chickens, ducks, and geese in Shenyang, northeastern China

• Main Authors: Yang Na, Mu Ming-Yang, Li Hong-Kui, Long Miao, He Jian-Bin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012-10-01
• Series: Parasites & Vectors
• Subjects: <it>Toxoplasma gondii</it>; Seroprevalence; Chicken; Duck; Goose; MAT
• Online Access: http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/5/1/237

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In recent years, investigations of <it>Toxoplasma gondii</it> infection in poultry (chickens, ducks, and geese) have been reported worldwide, including China. However, little is known about the prevalence of <it>T. gondii</it> infection in poultry in northeastern China. Therefore, the present study was performed to determine the prevalence of <it>T. gondii</it> infection in slaughtered chickens, ducks, and geese in Shenyang, northeastern China.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the present study, the seroprevalence of <it>T. gondii</it> in 502 adult chickens, 268 adult ducks, and 128 adult geese was surveyed using the modified agglutination test (MAT).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The seroprevalences of <it>T. gondii</it> were 5.8%, 7.8%, and 4.7% in chickens, ducks, and geese, respectively. Prevalence was higher in free-range groups (11.2%, 12.3%, and 8.9%) than caged groups (4.7%, 7.5%, and 6.0%), and there was a statistically significant difference only between free-range chickens and caged chickens, but no significant difference was found between free-range ducks, geese and caged ducks, geese.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The present study shows the prescence of <it>T. gondii</it> infection in slaughtered chickens, ducks, and geese in Shenyang, northeastern China, which suggests that consumption of poultry meat in Shenyang may pose a potential threat to human health and should be given attention.</p>