Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in quail birds handlers and consumers in Baghdad city

Abstract

      Toxoplasmosis is one of the most prevalent and important foodborne and waterborne zoonotic infectious parasitic diseases of medical and veterinary importance worldwide It is caused by an obligate apicomplexan intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T.gondii) that can be life threatening when opportunistic or congenital in both humans and animals. Therefore, its diagnosis requires accurate and rapid techniques that rely mostly on serology and molecular methods The infection can be acquired postnatally by consumption of inadequately cooked or raw meat of animals and birds  involving infective tissue cysts,or from soil, foods or drinks contaminated with  sporulation  oocyssts

    The total infection rate of toxoplasmosis in quail birds handlers and consumers by indirect ELISA, IgG was 44% (66/150), in which women and men recorded 49.33% (37/75) and 38.66% (29/75), respectively, without significant difference (P ≤ 0.05). According to age, the highest infection rate 52 % (26/50) was found in ≥ 40 years age group, while the lowest 36% (18/50) was in ages of 20-29 years with significant difference (P≤0.05). A variation was found in the infection rates among the study areas, the highest 56.66% (17/30) was in Al-Ghazel market; and the lowest 33.33% (10/30) in Al-Shaula. According to the Months of the study the higher infection rate of toxoplasmosis 70.58% (12/17) was revealed in September, while the lowest 23.52% (4/17) recorded in June & July with highly significant** (P≤0.01) differences Toxoplasma specific IgG avidity  (minividas) test showed a maximum value with high avidity (57/66) and only (7/66)  with low avidity and 2/66 with  intermediate avidity (borderline). The rates  of  high avidity (86.36%) were higher than the lower and intermediate (borderline) avidity (10.60%and 3.03%), respectively.