title: Sensitivity and specificity of serological tests, histopathology and immunohistochemistry for detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic chickens.
abstract: Since free-range chickens are important for the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis, this study evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of different laboratory techniques for the diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii in these animals. Serum samples from 135 adult domestic chickens were tested for anti-T. gondii antibodies by the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), modified agglutination test (MAT), and indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT). Tissue samples from all animals were analyzed by histopathology, immunohistochemistry and mouse bioassay (gold standard). Fifty-four chickens were positive for T. gondii in the bioassay. The sensitivity and specificity of the different tests were, respectively, 85% and 56% for ELISA; 80% and 52% for IFAT; 76% and 68% for MAT; 61% and 80% for IHAT; 7% and 98% for immunohistochemistry, and 6% and 98% for histopathology. The MAT was the most effective method for the diagnosis of T. gondii infection in chickens, followed by ELISA. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry are useful tools for the diagnosis of T. gondii infection in chickens due to their specificity.
authors: Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP: 21040-360, Brazil.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Casartelli-Alves
authors: Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP: 21040-360, Brazil.
authors: V C
authors: VC
authors: Boechat
authors: Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP: 21040-360, Brazil.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Macedo-Couto
authors: Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP: 21040-360, Brazil.
authors: L C
authors: LC
authors: Ferreira
authors: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP: 21040-360, Brazil.
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Nicolau
authors: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP: 21040-360, Brazil.
authors: L B
authors: LB
authors: Neves
authors: Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Professor Ernani Melo, 101, Niterói, RJ CEP: 24210-130, Brazil.
authors: P R
authors: PR
authors: Millar
authors: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP: 21040-360, Brazil.
authors: R T
authors: RT
authors: Vicente
authors: Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP: 21040-360, Brazil.
authors: R V C
authors: RV
authors: Oliveira
authors: Instituto Nacional do Câncer, Praça da Cruz Vermelha, 23, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP: 20230-130, Brazil.
authors: A G
authors: AG
authors: Muniz
authors: Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP: 21040-360, Brazil.
authors: I C F
authors: IC
authors: Bonna
authors: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP: 21040-360, Brazil.
authors: M R R
authors: MR
authors: Amendoeira
authors: College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, 240 Wise Center Drive, 39762 Starkville, USA.
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Silva
authors: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Botucatu, SP CEP: 18618-970, Brazil.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Langoni
authors: Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP: 21040-360, Brazil.
authors: T M P
authors: TM
authors: Schubach
authors: Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP: 21040-360, Brazil. Electronic address: rodrigo.menezes@ipec.fiocruz.br.
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Menezes
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D002645:Chickens / Q000469:parasitology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D051379:Mice; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan
keywords: Chickens; Diagnosis; Histopathology; Immunohistochemistry; Serology; Toxoplasma gondii