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Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii was widely spread in humans and other animals, including domestic poultry, worldwide and depends on a unique collection of secretory and cytoskeletal organelles for host cell invasion. The meat of T. gondii infected poultry which includes chickens and ducks was widely consumed in most countries and was known as a primary source of human infection. In Iraq generally and in Basrah province especially, the prevalence of T. gondii in local ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) and domestic chicken (Gallus gallus) was scarcely known. In the current study, the Latex Agglutination Test (LAT) and (TOX) Toxoplasma IgM/IgG Antibody Rapid Test Kit (Immunochromatography) were used to examine antibodies to T. gondii in 40 local duck birds and 62 domestic chickens from different regions in Basrah Province. Antibodies to T. gondii (LAT) were found in 14 (35%) of 40 local duck birds, and 23 (37.09%) of 62 domestic chickens. While the T. gondii antibodies (Rapid Test) were detected in 10 (25%) of 40 local duck birds and 17 (27.41%) of 62 domestic chicken. The findings showed that the soil was contaminated by T. gondii oocysts represented a food source for domestic chicken and local duck birds due to the birds feeding on the ground. It suggested that the meat from domestic poultry may be an important source of human T. gondii infection in Iraq. This study was the first study in Basrah province to detect toxoplasmosis in domestic chicken and local duck birds.

Keywords

Ducks, Gallus gallus, Latex Agglutination Test, Rapid Test, Toxoplasma gondii

Subject Area

Biology

Article Type

Article

First Page

1185

Last Page

1190

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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