Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in the white stork Ciconia ciconia

Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 2004 Jul-Aug;117(7-8):274-5.

Abstract

The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in chicks of wild birds and captive individuals was studied in the Poznań environs and in the Poznań Zoological Garden in the years 2002-2003. Bird blood was tested for T. gondii antibodies by an indirect fluorescent antibody test. T. gondii antibodies were detected from 5.8% of 205 analysed white stork chicks and 13.6% of 44 analysed adult storks in the zoo. Because toxoplasmosis is one of the more common parasitic zoonoses worldwide, we briefly discuss the potential epidemiological importance of stork toxoplasmosis to humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Zoo
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Bird Diseases / blood
  • Bird Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Bird Diseases / parasitology
  • Birds
  • Disease Vectors
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / veterinary
  • Poland / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Toxoplasma / immunology*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / blood
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology*
  • Zoonoses / parasitology
  • Zoonoses / transmission

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan