AI Article Synopsis
- - Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite affecting humans and wildlife, and a study in Taiwan looked at antibodies in 394 wild birds from 37 species, finding a seroprevalence of 23.35%.
- - Birds of prey and those in aquatic environments had the highest infection rates, with adult birds showing greater seroprevalence compared to juveniles; clinical abnormalities were linked to infection.
- - The findings indicate T. gondii is widely spread in Taiwan, raising concerns about its zoonotic potential and the need for further research on its impact on wild birds.
Article Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoon which is well known for infecting humans and wild animals. In the present study, antibodies to T. gondii were evaluated in 394 wild birds, belonging to 37 species, from 15 different administrative regions in Taiwan. Using modified agglutination test (MAT), the overall seroprevalence of infection was 23.35% (CI 95% = 19.17%-27.53%). Antibodies were detected in birds of prey (25.73%, CI 95% = 19.76%-31.70%), birds living in freshwater or marine systems (34.29%, CI 95% = 18.56%-50.01%) and ground-feeding birds (18.12%, CI 95% = 11.94%-24.31%). Adult birds showed higher seroprevalence than that in juvenile birds, and the presence of clinical abnormalities was associated with T. gondii seropositivity. The results showed that this pathogen has spread widely in Taiwan. This suggests the zoonotic potential of the disease, with transmission from urban to rural regions, and from terrestrial to aquatic systems. The pathogenicity of T. gondii infection in wild birds in Taiwan needs further investigation. This is the first study of the seroprevalence of T. gondii in wild birds in Taiwan.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2015.08.010 | DOI Listing |
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