الفهرس 
Congenital toxoplasmosisOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most successful parasites worldwide, capable of infecting virtually all warm blooded animals. It is
estimated that up to one third of the worlds human population is infected.
In human pregnant women and immune-compromised individuals are the
main risk groups, although immune-competent individuals may develop
ocular disease as a result of infection
Estimates of the zoonotic diseases are helpful for monitoring and
improving public health. Laboratory-based surveillance provides crucial
information for assessing zoonotic disease trends and developments.
Toxoplasmaosis is considered as a zoonotic disease andhas both medical
and veterinary importance since it leads to abortion in humans and several
animals.chickens are considered one of the most important hosts in the
epidemiology of T. gondii infection because they are an efficient source of
infection for cats that excrete the environmentally resistant oocysts. So,
chickens are often used as sentinel animals because they easily pick up T.
gondii from the environment due to their roaming behavior and humans
may become infected with this T. gondii after eating undercooked infected
chicken meat.
In view of the worldwide importance of T. gondii, this study aimed
to estimate the prevalence of T. gondii in chickens from the Delta of Egypt.
A total of 304 blood and tissue samples were collected from Egyptian
chickens from Gharbiya, Qalyoubiya, Minufiya, Beheira, Kafr ELShaykhand
Dakahlia Provinces. In order to determine the serological and
histopathological prevalence of T. gondii, the samples were examined by
ELISA, histopathology and immunohistochemistry (IHC).
Histopathological sections of the examined chickens collected and
tissue lesions which were most likely to be induced by T. gondii such brain heart and liver fixed in neutral-buffered formaline, processed routinely
for sectioning and stained with (H&E) and toluodine blue, protozoan tissue
cysts observed in the three different organs .
The identity of the protozoan was confirmed immunohistochemically
by staining slides with T. gondii specific antibodies. It found that sections
of chicken’s brain were reacted with antibodies Rabbit Polyclonal Anti-
Toxoplasma gondii that insure the protozoan was Toxoplasma gondii.
The overall prevalence of T. gondii was 11.18%, 6.91%, 6.91% by
ELISA, histopathology and IHC, respectively. T. gondii cyst samples
stained with (H&E) or toluodine blue observed in different tissues (brain ,
heart , liver) with significant differences ratio (6.91 % , 1.64% , 0.98%
respectively), 21(6.91%) brain tissue cysts were confirmed positive to T.
gondii by immunohistochemical stain.
The prevalence of T. gondii in chickens from different Provinces of
the delta of Egypt was significantly high in Qalyoubiya and Kafr ELShaykh
Provinces; 6 of 34 (17.64%), 9 of 61 (14.75 %) by ELISA and 5 of
34 (14.70%), 6 of 61 (9.83%) using IHC, respectively. Moreover, the
prevalence was high in Gharbiya Province; 13 of 105 (12.38%), 7 of 105
(6.66%) by ELISA and IHC, respectively. On the other hand, the
prevalence was significantly (P < 0.05) low in Minufiya and Dakahlia
Provinces as compared to Qalyoubiya and Kafr EL-Shaykh Provinces. No
detection was recorded in Beheira Province.
According to the season, the prevalence of T. gondii in chickens
using ELISA, was highest in the autumn 13.54%, followed by spring
11.9%. During winter the prevalence was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced
8.87% compared to the autumn season. No significant differences were
detected on the seasonal prevalence of T. gondii using histopathology or
IHC. On the basis of the sex, the seroprevalence was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in females 11.25% compared to male birds 8.57%. T. gondii
antibodies and tissue cysts were detected in both the free-range and caged
chickens, the prevalence showed significant (P < 0.05) increase in freerange
chickens 16.49%, 11.34% compared to caged chickens 8.69%, 4.83%
using ELISA and IHC, respectively.
These data provide valuable information regarding the epidemiology
of T. gondii infections in Egyptian chickens, which can be employed in
developing efficient strategies for disease management and control.