Molecular detection and seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis in free range local chickens (Gallus domesticus) in Duhok province, Iraq

Toxoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan zoonotic parasitic disease of mammals and birds; human infection occurs through consumption of raw or undercooked meat. Little was known about the infection rate of T. gondii among free range local chickens (Gallus domesticus) in Duhok province. Therefore, the present study was carried out to determine the infection rate in Duhok province by using ELISA (IgG) and conventional PCR. A total of 368 blood samples were collected from free range local chickens distributed in five different areas of Duhok province during the period from November 2016 to March 2017. The collected blood samples were from different sexes (hens and cocks) and from different age groups (less than 6 months and older than 6 months). The data found that the total infection rate was (84 / 368) 22.8% by ELSIA. The presence of the infection was confirmed by PCR and DNA sequencing. In this study, there were differences from area to area in the infection rates, the highest rate was reported in Semel district at 33.7% which was significantly (p<0.05) higher than 21.7%, 18.3%, 18.0% and 17.6% were reported in Akre, Shekhan, Amedi and Bardarash, respectively. However, no significant difference was found between age and sex groups, the results showed that hens and older chickens reported higher infection rates than cocks and younger age. The high prevalent of toxoplasmosis among free range chickens in Duhok province, it is highly recommended to follow strict hygienic measurements in order to minimize the role of chickens in transmission of infection to human.