title: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in chickens in Jinzhou, northeastern China.
abstract: There is a lack of epidemiological data on Toxoplasma gondii infection in chickens in China. In the present study, serum samples from 160 free-range chickens and 450 caged chickens collected from Jinzhou, northeastern China were examined for T. gondii antibodies using a modified agglutination test (MAT). Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 30 of 160 free-range chickens (18.8%) and in 25 of 450 caged chickens (5.6%), with a significantly higher prevalence in free-range chickens (P < 0.01). In caged chickens, 8 of 100 breeders (8.0%), 15 of 190 layers (7.9%), and 2 of 160 broilers (1.3%) were positive, with the highest prevalence in breeders and layers (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in comparing free-range chickens and caged chickens from different regions. The results of the present study indicated that infection with T. gondii in chickens, particularly in free-range chickens, is common in Jinzhou and that the meat from the poultry may be an important source for human infection by T. gondii .
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xingshuai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fengyang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000592:standards; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002645:Chickens / Q000469:parasitology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000469:parasitology; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan