Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Chickens in Durango State, Mexico

• Published in: The Journal of parasitology Vol. 98; no. 2; pp. 431 - 432
• Main Authors: Alvarado-Esquivel, C, González-Salazar, A. M, Alvarado-Esquivel, D, Ontiveros-Vázquez, F, Vitela-Corrales, J, Villena, I, Dubey, J. P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lawrence, KS American Society of Parasitologists 01-04-2012; Allen Press Inc
• Subjects: Abattoirs; Age; Agglutination; agglutination tests; Animals; Antibodies; Antibodies, Protozoan - blood; Backyards; Biological and medical sciences; Chickens; Chickens - parasitology; cities; Deserts; Farms; Female; Females; free range husbandry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gallus; General aspects; General aspects and techniques. Study of several systematic groups. Models; Geographic regions; Infection; Infections; Invertebrates; Male; Mexico - epidemiology; Municipalities; Parasitology; Poultry; Poultry Diseases - epidemiology; Poultry Diseases - parasitology; Protozoa; RESEARCH NOTES; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serology; seroprevalence; Slaughterhouses; Toxoplasma - immunology; Toxoplasma gondii; Toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - epidemiology; Central America; Mexico; America; Infection; Protozoa; Apicomplexa; Vertebrata; Toxoplasma gondii; Parasite; Chicken; Aves
• ISSN: 0022-3395; 1937-2345
• DOI: 10.1645/GE-2979.1

Little is known concerning the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in chickens (Gallus domesticus) in Mexico. Antibodies to T. gondii were determined in 519 chickens in Durango, Mexico using the modified agglutination test (MAT). Two groups (A, B) of chickens were sampled. Group A chickens (n  =  51) were raised in backyards in 7 municipalities in 3 geographical regions in Durango State. Group B chickens were raised in farms in the Mexican States of Sinaloa (n  =  289) and Nayarit (n  =  179) but slaughtered in 2 abattoirs in Durango City. Overall, antibodies to T. gondii were found in 36 (6.9%) of 519 chickens, with MAT titers of 1∶25 in 22, 1∶50 in 8, 1∶100 in 2, 1∶200 in 3, and 1∶400 in 1. Seroprevalence of T. gondii increased significantly with age and was significantly higher in Group A chickens than in Group B chickens. In Group A chickens, a 25.5% seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was found. Seropositive chickens were found in all 7 municipalities sampled. In Group B chickens, the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 4.9%. This is the first report of T. gondii infection in chickens in Durango State, Mexico.