title: Detection of NaturalToxoplasma gondiiInfection in Chicken in Thika Region of Kenya Using Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction.
abstract: The detection ofToxoplasma gondiiin free-range chickens is a good indicator of possible risk to human beings. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence ofT. gondiiin free-range chicken using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Brain samples from 105 free-range chickens from three administrative areas in Thika region, Kenya, were collected, DNA-extracted, and analyzed using PCR to detect presence ofT. gondii. The overall prevalence ofT. gondiiin all the three areas was 79.0% (95% CI: 70.0-86.4%) and the prevalence across the three areas was not significantly different (P= 0.5088;χ2= 1.354). Female chickens had higher (79.4%) prevalence than males (78.6%), although the difference was not significant (P= 0.922,χ2= 0.01). However, chickens that were more than 2 years old had significantly (P= 0.003;χ2= 11.87) higher prevalence compared to younger ones. The study indicates that there was a high occurrence ofT. gondiiinfection in free-range chickens from Thika region and that the infection rate is age dependent. Further studies should be carried out to determine the possible role of roaming chickens in the epidemiology of the disease among humans in the area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kenya Methodist University, P.O. Box 45240, Nairobi 00100, Kenya; Department of Public Health, JKUAT, P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi 00200, Kenya.
authors.forename: John Mokua
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6891-4093
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mose
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi 00200, Kenya.
authors.forename: John Maina
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5513-2113
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kagira
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, JKUAT, P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi 00200, Kenya.
authors.forename: Simon Muturi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Karanja
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health and Production, Mount Kenya University, P.O. Box 342, Thika 01000, Kenya.
authors.forename: Maina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ngotho
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, JKUAT, P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi 00200, Kenya.
authors.forename: David Muchina
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kamau
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, JKUAT, P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi 00200, Kenya.
authors.forename: Adele Nyambura
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Njuguna
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, JKUAT, P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi 00200, Kenya.
authors.forename: Naomi Wangari
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7577-5140
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Maina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology; D012737:Sex Factors; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan