Toxoplasma Gondii and Neospora Caninum Antibodies in Backyard Chickens in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are two intracellular apicomplexan protozoa with worldwide distribution, and are responsible for reproductive disorders in sheep and cattle. These protozoa may infect a wide variety of domestic and wild animals, including birds, and backyard chickens can be used as sentinels of their infection. Parasites investigation in backyard chickens may be useful for the evaluation of environmental contamination with oocysts, of the disease cycle, and of risk factors associated with public health. The aim of this study was establish the importance of backyard chickens as T. gondii and N. caninum hosts. A number of 137 serum samples were collected from chickens in 23 farms in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, and tested for toxoplasmosis and neosporosis by indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Anti-Toxoplasma and anti-Neospora antibodies were detected in 20 (87%) farms. Total prevalence of T. gondii was 74.4% (102/137) and 36.5% (50/137) for N. caninum, while 12.4% (17/137) of the chickens were positive for both protozoa. The results show that backyard chicken can used as indicators of the presenced of the protozoa N. caninum and T. gondii, emphasizing yours importance in the public health. Considering the high prevalence of toxoplasmosis in backyard chickens in the region, control measures should be taken to prevent transmission of the infection to the animals and humans.