Seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii infection in free ranged chicken from rural and urban settlements in Oyo State, Nigeria.

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.