University of Tehran Press Journal of Veterinary Research 2008-2525 75 2 2020 06 21 Seroprevalence and Molecular Study of Toxoplasma Infection in Domestic Chickens from Khorramabad, Iran Seroprevalence and Molecular Study of Toxoplasma Infection in Domestic Chickens from Khorramabad, Iran 130 135 76510 10.22059/jvr.2019.245868.2725 FA Seyed Foad Ahmadi Graduated from the Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran Ozra Zarifi Graduated from the Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran Hamidreza Shokrani Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran Hassan Norouzian Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran Journal Article 2019 12 18 BACKGROUND: <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> is an intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect most species of warm-blooded animals, including birds and humans. Because of feeding habits of domestic chickens, prevalence of Toxoplasma infection in free-range chickens is considered as a suitable indicator of environmental distribution of oocysts. <br />OBJECTIVES: The present study was designed to investigate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection in domestic chickens from Khorramabad and compare the results obtained from serological and molecular methods. <br />METHODS: In total, 97 serum samples were randomly obtained from domestic chickens and examined for the presence of anti-Toxoplasmaantibodies using modified agglutination test (MAT). Fifty grams of muscles (mixture of breast and heart) and whole brain from seropositive chickens were separately homogenized and examined by PCR which targets the repeated element (RE) of the parasite. <br />RESULTS: Anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were observed in 21 of 97 (21.64%) sera. <em>T. gondii</em> DNA was detected in 10 out of 21 (47.61%) seropositive chickens (with titres of ≥1:20). The low agreement between serological and molecular results can be explained by several factors such as possibility of cross-reactions in MAT and/or limited sample size in PCR. <br />CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that domestic chickens may have an important role as a source of infection for cats and individuals living in rural areas. BACKGROUND: <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> is an intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect most species of warm-blooded animals, including birds and humans. Because of feeding habits of domestic chickens, prevalence of Toxoplasma infection in free-range chickens is considered as a suitable indicator of environmental distribution of oocysts. <br />OBJECTIVES: The present study was designed to investigate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection in domestic chickens from Khorramabad and compare the results obtained from serological and molecular methods. <br />METHODS: In total, 97 serum samples were randomly obtained from domestic chickens and examined for the presence of anti-Toxoplasmaantibodies using modified agglutination test (MAT). Fifty grams of muscles (mixture of breast and heart) and whole brain from seropositive chickens were separately homogenized and examined by PCR which targets the repeated element (RE) of the parasite. <br />RESULTS: Anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were observed in 21 of 97 (21.64%) sera. <em>T. gondii</em> DNA was detected in 10 out of 21 (47.61%) seropositive chickens (with titres of ≥1:20). The low agreement between serological and molecular results can be explained by several factors such as possibility of cross-reactions in MAT and/or limited sample size in PCR. <br />CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that domestic chickens may have an important role as a source of infection for cats and individuals living in rural areas. https://jvr.ut.ac.ir/article_76510_24541b5e91c9832630137fa35fe31c30.pdf