A seroprevalence study of Toxoplasma gondii in some bird and animal species of Israel and its possible reflection on environmental contamination

The prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii was determined in sera from sheep, chickens and turkeys originating from various geographical regions of Israel. Using a modified agglutination test, antibodies to this parasite were found in 8.9% (41/458) of 4-6 month old sheep from Beer Sheva in the south of the country and 65.6% (84/128) mostly older sheep from a central region, about 20 km south-east of Tel-Aviv. In both areas some animals had titers ≥ 1:400. Free-range chickens from two areas in the center of Israel were found to be exposed: 12% of 100 chickens in a region approximately 45 km north-east of Tel-Aviv and 10.5% of 57 chickens in Jerusalem found to be seropositive. Some chickens produced titers ≥ 1:144. Of 45 turkeys tested from a location about 56km south east of Tel-Aviv, 4 (8.8%) had titers ≥ 1:50. This is the first report of T. gondii seroprevalence in turkeys in Israel and the widespread exposure found in these and other domestic animals tested, suggested widespread contamination of the environment with oocysts.