The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in free-range chickens from Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, was examined to evaluate environmental contamination by oocysts. Antibodies against T. gondii were assayed by the modified agglutination test (MAT) in sera of chickens. Antibodies against the parasite were found in 129 of 198 chickens with MAT titers ≥1:25. Brains and hearts of 86 of the 198 chickens were bioassayed in mice for the presence of T. gondii. Viable parasites were isolated from 61 (70.9%) of the 86 chickens. Importantly, viable T. gondii were recovered even from seronegative chickens (MAT titer ≤1:10). The distribution of parasite-positive chickens by MAT titer was 4 of 17 (titer ≤1:10), 3 of 4 (titer of 1:20), 2 of 6 (titer of 1:40), and 52 of 59 (titer ≥1:80). Thus, the high recovery rate of T. gondii observed in mice is indicative of high levels of environmental contamination of free-range chickens by T. gondii oocysts in this area that is endemic to humans.
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April 2003
Research Article|
April 01 2003
Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Chickens From an Area in Southern Brazil Highly Endemic to Humans
Daniele Seipel da Silva;
Daniele Seipel da Silva
aLaboratório de Biologia do Reconhecer, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-600, Brazil
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Lilian M. G. Bahia-Oliveira;
Lilian M. G. Bahia-Oliveira
aLaboratório de Biologia do Reconhecer, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-600, Brazil
dTo whom correspondence should be addressed
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S. K. Shen;
S. K. Shen
bParasite Biology, Epidemiology and Systematics Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350
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O. C H. Kwok;
O. C H. Kwok
bParasite Biology, Epidemiology and Systematics Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350
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Tovi Lehman;
Tovi Lehman
cDivision of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Bufford Highway, MS F22, Chamblee, Georgia 30341. lilian@uenf.br
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J. P. Dubey
J. P. Dubey
bParasite Biology, Epidemiology and Systematics Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350
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J Parasitol (2003) 89 (2): 394–396.
Citation
Daniele Seipel da Silva, Lilian M. G. Bahia-Oliveira, S. K. Shen, O. C H. Kwok, Tovi Lehman, J. P. Dubey; Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Chickens From an Area in Southern Brazil Highly Endemic to Humans. J Parasitol 1 April 2003; 89 (2): 394–396. doi: https://doi.org/10.1645/0022-3395(2003)089[0394:POTGIC]2.0.CO;2
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