Migratory Wild Birds as Potential Long-Distance Transmitters of Toxoplasma gondii Infection.

ABSTRACT: Toxoplasma gondii is a worldwide distributed zoonotic protozoan capable of infecting a wide range of mammals (including humans) and birds as intermediate hosts. Migratory wild birds, through interconnecting countries along their flyways, can play a role in the spatial spread of T. gondii and could contribute to its sylvatic cycle. Additionally, hunted wild birds used for meat consumption could represent a further source of human infection. To determine the presence of T. gondii in wild birds, a total of 50 individuals belonging to the Anseriformes and Charadriiformes orders were sampled during the 2021-2022 hunting season in Northern Italy. Cardiac muscle samples of three Northern shovelers (Anas clypeata), two wild mallards (A. platyrhynchos), one Eurasi

SUBMITTER: Dini FM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10051421 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature