Seroprevalence and risk assessment of Toxoplasma gondii in Java sparrows (Lonchura oryzivora) in China

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular zoonotic parasite, infects all mammalian and birds. Understanding the prevalence of Toxoplasma in bird is important for evaluating the transmission of this parasite. No information about the seroprevalence of T. gondii in Java sparrows (Lonchura oryzivora) is available. RESULTS: In this study, from 2014 to 2015, 350 serum samples from Java sparrows were collected in Beijing and Shangqiu, Henan province, and the antibodies against T. gondii were evaluated with MAT. The seroprevalence in Java sparrows was 34.29% (CI(95%) 29.31–39.26). A phenomenon of seropositivity tended to increase with age were observed, but the difference is not significant. The prevalence was significant different in gender and color, which could be risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: This study firstly reported T. gondii seroprevalence in Java sparrows, which extended the host range of T. gondii. Java sparrows may pose significant transmission medium, accelerating the spread of T. gondii diffusion.