Pathogenicity of two Toxoplasma gondii strains in chickens of different ages infected via intraperitoneal injection.

Pathogenicity of two Toxoplasma gondii strains in chickens of different ages infected via intraperitoneal injection.
Avian Pathol. 2013 Dec 11;
Authors: Wang S, Zhao G, Wang W, Xie Q, Zhang M, Yuan C, Hassan IA, Liu X, Xu L, Yan R, Song X, Li X
Abstract
This experiment was conducted to investigate the pathogenicity of Toxoplasma gondii in broilers of different ages. Chickens at the age of 7, 14, 21 and 28 days old were injected intraperitoneally with 1 × 10(8) tachyzoites of RH and JS strains of T. gondii, respectively. The clinical signs and death of chickens were recorded daily post-inoculation. Serum samples were collected at day 0, 4, 11, 18, 25, 32, 39, 46 and 53 post-infection to screen T. gondii circulating antigens (TCA) and antibodies (TCAb). The results showed that T. gondii infection of 7-day-old chickens caused death, even though the mortality rate of JS strain (100%) was significantly higher than the one noticed with the RH strain (70%). Chickens at 14 days old showed only mild clinical symptoms, but no death. Neither clinical symptoms nor death were recorded in 21 and 28-day-old chickens. The TCA and TCAb became positive at days 4 and 11, respectively. Both the TCA and TCAb of groups 21-day-old (RH) and 28-day-old (both RH and JS) decreased to negative level earlier than the other experimental groups. Specific T. gondii DNA was detected by PCR in chickens which survived in the group 7-day-old (RH) and in all infected chickens of...

Source: Avian Pathology - December 11, 2013 Category: Pathology Authors: Wang S, Zhao G, Wang W, Xie Q, Zhang M, Yuan C, Hassan IA, Liu X, Xu L, Yan R, Song X, Li X Tags: Avian Pathol Source Type: research