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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2012, Vol. 12 Issue (8): 1347-1353    DOI: 10.1016/S1671-2927(00)8665
ANIMAL SCIENCE · VETERINARY SCIENCE Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from Chickens in China
 ZHAO Guang-wei, SHEN Bo, XIE Qing, XU Li-xin, YAN Ruo-feng, SONG Xiao-kai, Hassan Ibrahim Adam,  LI Xiang-rui
College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, P.R.China
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摘要  One strain of Toxoplasma gondii was successfully isolated from chickens in China by bioassay in mice. Antibodies and circulating antigens of T. gondii were assayed by the ELISA kits in 100 free range chickens from a rural area surrounding Funing, China. Fifty-three chickens were antibody-positive and 21 chickens were antigen positive. Hearts, brains, spleens, lungs, livers, and kidneys of 21 antibody or antigen-positive chickens were bioassayed in mice. One strain of T. gondii was isolated from 1 of 21 (4.76%) chickens. The isolated T. gondii killed all of the inoculated mice. Genotyping of this isolate using polymorphisms at the loci 5´-SAG2, 3´-SAG2, SAG3, cB21-4, L358, BTUB, and GRA6 revealed that it was Type I. These indicated that it was virulent for mice. This is the first report of isolation of T. gondii from chickens in China.

Abstract  One strain of Toxoplasma gondii was successfully isolated from chickens in China by bioassay in mice. Antibodies and circulating antigens of T. gondii were assayed by the ELISA kits in 100 free range chickens from a rural area surrounding Funing, China. Fifty-three chickens were antibody-positive and 21 chickens were antigen positive. Hearts, brains, spleens, lungs, livers, and kidneys of 21 antibody or antigen-positive chickens were bioassayed in mice. One strain of T. gondii was isolated from 1 of 21 (4.76%) chickens. The isolated T. gondii killed all of the inoculated mice. Genotyping of this isolate using polymorphisms at the loci 5´-SAG2, 3´-SAG2, SAG3, cB21-4, L358, BTUB, and GRA6 revealed that it was Type I. These indicated that it was virulent for mice. This is the first report of isolation of T. gondii from chickens in China.
Keywords:  Toxoplasma gondii      chickens      China      isolation  
Received: 29 March 2011   Accepted:
Fund: 

This work was supported by the Special Fund for Public Welfare Industry of Chinese Ministry of Agriculture (200903036-04).

Corresponding Authors:  Correspondence LI Xiang-rui, Tel: +86-25-84399000, Fax: +86-25-84399000, E-mail:Lixiangrui@njau.edu.cn     E-mail:  Lixiangrui@njau.edu.cn
About author:  ZHAO Guang-wei, Mobile: 18936036162, E-mail: 2009207019@njau.edu.cn

Cite this article: 

ZHAO Guang-wei, SHEN Bo, XIE Qing, XU Li-xin, YAN Ruo-feng, SONG Xiao-kai, Hassan Ibrahim Adam, LI Xiang-rui. 2012. Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from Chickens in China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 12(8): 1347-1353.

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