title: Occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and parasite DNA in backyard chicken breeding in Northeast, Brazil.
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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Infectocontagiosas dos Animais Domésticos, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marcela Fernanda Torres Samico
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Infectocontagiosas dos Animais Domésticos, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Erika Fernanda Torres Samico Fernandes
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Infectocontagiosas dos Animais Domésticos, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: José Givanildo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Infectocontagiosas dos Animais Domésticos, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: André da Rocha
authors.initials: Ada R
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Infectocontagiosas dos Animais Domésticos, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Orestes Luiz
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: de Souza Neto
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Infectocontagiosas dos Animais Domésticos, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: André de Souza
authors.initials: Ade S
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Infectocontagiosas dos Animais Domésticos, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Pedro Paulo Feitosa
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: de Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Infectocontagiosas dos Animais Domésticos, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Débora Costa Viegas
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Infectocontagiosas dos Animais Domésticos, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rinaldo Aparecido
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mota
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil; D001947:Breeding; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan