Perfil soroepidemiológico de Toxoplasma gondii em Gallus gallus na região metropolitana de Goiânia, Goiás

The objective of this work was to study the sero-epidemiological profile of T. gondii in free-range (subsistence) chickens, laying hens and broiler fowl in the metropolitan region of Goiânia, Goiás, and to evaluate the correlation between the two serological tests used (MAT and HAI). Samples from 450 birds were studied, with 150 from each rearing system, using MAT and HAI tests. Of the 150 birds from which blood samples were taken, 57 (38%) were reagent with MAT. Of the 150 samples analyzed from layers, 17 (11.3%) presented antibodies in the serological test. Of the 150 broilers studied, only seven (4.7%) were reagent with the MAT test. When the positivity of birds in relation to the rearing system was compared, there was a linear tendency for positivity to rise both with MAT and with HAI, as follows: broiler, layer and free-range (p<0.001). It was concluded that anti-T. gondii antibodies are present in all three types of Gallus gallus rearing systems studied, and positivity rises thus: broiler fowl, laying hens and free-range chickens reared in subsistence conditions. The analysis of results from HAI and MAT by Kappa test demonstrated a close agreement between the two tests, which allows us to conclude that these are comparable options for use in epidemiological studies.