Molecular Identification of Toxoplasma gondii in Domesticate and Industrial Chickens in Isfahan Region, Iran, 2022

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a pathogenic and zoonotic parasite, with warm blooded animals being considered as its hosts. Humans, especially immune defective subjects, may show serious symptoms of toxoplasmosis, while in poultry it can lead to an asymptomatic infection. Consumption of raw or undercooked meat of chickens can cause infection in human and other animals. So in this study, we identified and genotyped toxoplasmosis in chickens of Isfahan, Iran. After assessing blood samples from 60 domestic chickens and roosters, 60 industrial broiler chickens and roosters, and 60 laying hens and identifying the seropositive specimens by MAT test, the brain and tongue tissues of positive cases by serological tests were examined to identify the genotypes of T. gondii by nested PCR-RFLP. Molecular tests showed that toxoplasmosis was recorded in the brain tissue more than the tongue tissue, which can be attributed to the neurophilic nature of the parasite. The parasite strain in our samples was Genotype I. A significant percentage of domestic and industrial chickens and roosters were infected with T. gondii. Therefore, safe and hygienic methods of keeping and caring for chickens in domestic and industrial farms should be taken into consideration to prevent chickens from becoming infected. According to previous studies in human, environment, and livestock meat in Isfahan, Genotype I was predominant, which indicates the establishment of this genotype in the region.