Epidemiologic significance ofToxoplasma gondiiinfections in chickens (Gallus domesticus): the past decade

Abstract

AbstractToxoplasma gondiiinfections are common in humans and animals worldwide. Domestic free-range chickens (Gallus domesticus) are excellent sentinels of environmental contamination withT. gondiioocysts because they feed on the ground. Chickens can be easily infected withT. gondii; however, clinical toxoplasmosis is rare in these hosts. Chickens are comparatively inexpensive and thus are good sentinel animals forT. gondiiinfections on the farms. Here, the authors reviewed prevalence, the persistence of infection, clinical disease, epidemiology and genetic diversity ofT. gondiistrains isolated from chickens worldwide for the past decade. Data on phenotypic and molecular characteristics of 794 viableT. gondiistrains from chickens are discussed, including new data onT. gondiiisolates from chickens in Brazil. This paper will be of interest to biologists, epidemiologists, veterinarians and parasitologists.