Trop Anim Health Prod. 2026 Jul 15;58(6):419. doi: 10.1007/s11250-026-05191-7.
ABSTRACT
Toxoplasma gondii, an important food-borne parasite, has been reported in a wide range of food animals, including poultry. Dongan chicken, a native breed of Hunan province, subtropical China, is widely consumed, but its T. gondii infection status remains unknown. A total of 1,220 serum samples were collected from Dongan chickens intended for human consumption in Hunan province, China. Serum samples were tested for T. gondii IgG antibodies using an indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA). IgG antibodies against T. gondii were detected in 434 (35.6%; 95% CI: 32.9-38.3) of the examined serum samples. The seroprevalence of the six surveyed herds ranged from 31.7% to 39.8% (P > 0.05). Statistical analysis identified age, gender and farm model as significant risk factors for infection (P < 0.001). This is the first report of T. gondii seroprevalence in Dongan chickens in Yongzhou in Hunan province. The high seroprevalence suggests a potential risk for human and animal infection. Effective measures should be implemented to control T. gondii infection in Dongan chickens in Hunan province, subtropical China.
PMID:42455455 | DOI:10.1007/s11250-026-05191-7
