Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii (Chromista: Apicomplexa) in the blood of passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in south-eastern Armenia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle & Manceaux, 1908) is a highly prevalent zoonotic protozoan parasite found globally in various bird and mammal species, including humans. Migratory birds play an important epidemiological role by facilitating the spread of pathogens, including T. gondii, to new regions. Armenia is particularly significant in this context being located at the crossroads of three global migration flyways; however, research on T. gondii infection in wild birds in this region has not been previously conducted. This study marks the first molecular detection of active T. gondii infection in the blood of wild birds, assessing the prevalence associated with the risk factors such as age, sex, migratory status, and feeding habits of birds. Research was carried out in the Megri Region of Syunik Province in 2013, 2014, and 2018 in the breeding season. The presence of parasite in 116 Passerines was determined using PCR with specific primers derived from the RE gene with mean prevalence of T. gondii in 12%. The highest infection rates were observed in Upcher’s Warbler, Hippolais languida (Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1833), at 36% (4 out of 11), Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Oenanthe melanoleuca (Guldenstadt, 1775), at 33% (2 out of 6), and Eastern Orphean Warbler, Curruca crassirostris (Bates, 1936), at 19% (5 out of 27). Long-distance migrants exhibited a higher frequency of T. gondii occurrence compared to resident birds (χ2 = 7.11, DF = 2, p = 0.029). The infection rates did not show a dependence on the sex or age of the birds. The relationship between infection and feeding behavior in local toxoplasmosis distribution remains unclear, necessitating further research with new methodologies, additional animal species, broader geographic coverage, and larger sample sizes.

Keywords

• Infection transmission
• migratory patterns
• RE gene
• toxoplasmosis
• wild birds