BACKGROUND: Free-range chicken preferred as source of meat by a large population in developing countries is now known to play an important role in the epidemiology of Toxoplasmosis. AIM: This study was therefore aimed at investigating the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in free-range local chicken from rural and urban settlements in Oyo State, Nigeria. METHODS: Sera from 225 chickens were assayed for T gondii antibodies using Modified Agglutination Test (MAT). RESULTS: Ninety-one (40.4%) were positive for T gondii antibodies (MAT cut-off titre of 1:20). Seroprevalence were 41%, 38.5%, 41.9% and 38.2% in adolescents, adults, female and male chicken respectively. Antibodies were detected in chickens obtained from all Local Government Areas (LGAs) with higher titre in rural than urban chickens. Chickens from rural areas had significant association with seropositivity to T gondii infection (OR = 2.534; 95% CI = 1.442 - 454; P = 0.0016). There was no significant association of T gondii (P > 0.05) with age, sex and the origin of chicken. Conclusion: The study showed that detection of high antibodies titre to T gondii in free-range chicken suggests a wide spread of T gondii oocyst in the studied environment and that consumption of undercooked meat from these birds may be sources of T gondii infection to humans.
BACKGROUND: Free-range chicken preferred as source of meat by a large population in developing countries is now known to play an important role in the epidemiology of Toxoplasmosis. AIM: This study was therefore aimed at investigating the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in free-range local chicken from rural and urban settlements in Oyo State, Nigeria. METHODS: Sera from 225 chickens were assayed for T gondii antibodies using Modified Agglutination Test (MAT). RESULTS: Ninety-one (40.4%) were positive for T gondii antibodies (MAT cut-off titre of 1:20). Seroprevalence were 41%, 38.5%, 41.9% and 38.2% in adolescents, adults, female and male chicken respectively. Antibodies were detected in chickens obtained from all Local Government Areas (LGAs) with higher titre in rural than urban chickens. Chickens from rural areas had significant association with seropositivity to T gondii infection (OR = 2.534; 95% CI = 1.442 - 454; P = 0.0016). There was no significant association of T gondii (P > 0.05) with age, sex and the origin of chicken. Conclusion: The study showed that detection of high antibodies titre to T gondii in free-range chicken suggests a wide spread of T gondii oocyst in the studied environment and that consumption of undercooked meat from these birds may be sources of T gondii infection to humans.
Authors: Aretas Babatoundé Nounnagnon Tonouhewa; Yao Akpo; Philippe Sessou; Camus Adoligbe; Eric Yessinou; Yaovi Gildas Hounmanou; Marc Napoléon Assogba; Issaka Youssao; Souaïbou Farougou Journal: Vet World Date: 2017-02-16
Authors: S Stelzer; W Basso; J Benavides Silván; L M Ortega-Mora; P Maksimov; J Gethmann; F J Conraths; G Schares Journal: Food Waterborne Parasitol Date: 2019-04-03