Cross-sectional survey for toxoplasmosis in free-range chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) from the Atlantic Forest area in Alagoas state, Northeastern Brazil

Rev Bras Parasitol Vet. 2020 Oct 19;29(4):e014120. doi: 10.1590/S1984-29612020087. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease, which is prevalent across the world and has a strong environmental component in its transmission chain. The present study determined the seroprevalence and factors related to Toxoplasma gondii infection among free-range chickens from an Atlantic Forest area in Northeastern Brazil. A total of 550 free-range chickens were tested for T. gondii antibodies usingthe indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT, cut-off point 1:16), and 269 (48.9%; 95% CI = 44.7-53.1%) were positive. Among the 61 properties 57 (93.4%) had at least one seropositive animal. The robust Poisson regression model showed that the variables/categories associated with the seroprevalence of T. gondii were: region of origin of the animals/urban area (prevalence ratio [PR] = 2.346; P<0.001), management system/use of cages (PR = 1.591; P = 0.019), presence of rodents/yes (PR = 1.295; P = 0.035), and the type of food/use of food scraps (PR = 1.603; P = 0.009). The high prevalence found suggest that this scenario demands careful management, mainly regarding the use of scraps of undercooked or raw food, adequate environmental hygiene and frequent rodentcontrol.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Chickens / immunology
  • Chickens / parasitology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Forests
  • Poultry Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Poultry Diseases / parasitology
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Toxoplasma / immunology
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal* / diagnosis
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal* / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan