INCIDENCE OF TOXOPLASMA-GONDII IN POPULATIONS OF DOMESTIC BIRDS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in the domestic fowl was studied in the Strakonice district in southern Bohemia (Czechoslovakia) between 1981 and 1990. The presence of antibodies and T. gondii cysts was ascertained by means of Sabin-Feldman dye tests and isolation assays, respectively. Of 3338 samples of chicken serum from 13 small backyard operations, antibodies were detected in 5.1% of cases. T. gondii cysts were found in two of 10 chickens examined. A total of 1120 chickens from a commercial farm was tested and antibodies were found in 0.01% of them. Isolation assays were made on 1097 chickens and T. gondii cysts were found in 0.36% of them. In small backyard operations, tests for antibodies were made on 28 guinea-fowl (negative), 297 ducks (1.7% positive) and 32 geese (15.6% positive).