Molecular and Serological Evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Reared Turkeys in Fars Province, Iran

作者：Sarkari Bahador; Asgari Qasem^*; Bagherian Neda; Esfahani Soheil Ashkani; Kalantari Mohsen; Mohammadpour Iraj; Ashrafmansori Majid; Amerinia Maryam; Sarvestani Fatemeh Sabet

来源：Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology, 2014, 7(7): e11598.

DOI：10.5812/jjm.11598

• Toxoplasma
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Biological Assay
• Turkeys

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite infects most of warm-blooded animals, including birds. Turkeys are one of these animals which might be infected by this parasite. Little is known about the prevalence of T. gondii in turkeys in Iran. %26lt;br%26gt;Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate the rate of Toxoplasma infection in turkeys in Fars Province, Southern Iran. %26lt;br%26gt;Materials and Methods: Sera and tissues (brain, neck and tongue) of 54 turkeys were collected from Shiraz slaughterhouse in Fars province. Anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were assessed in the collected sera using modified agglutination test (MAT), while tissues were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bioassay methods. %26lt;br%26gt;Results: T. gondii antibodies (MAT titer: %26gt;= 1: 40) were found in 89.8% of turkeys. T. gondii DNA was detected in 61.6% of turkey tissues and brain had the highest rate of infection. Brain tissues from each animal were bioassayed and Toxoplasma tissue cysts were found in 11.5% and Toxoplasma DNA in 62% of inoculated mice. %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusions: Results of this study validated a relatively high level of Toxoplasma infection in reared turkeys and turkey meat might be considered as an infection sources for human.

• 出版日期2014-7