Rapid Point-of-Care Testing for Detection of Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in Black Vultures and Ring-billed Gulls from Pennsylvania

Authors

Alexa Rosypal von Dohlen, Johnson C. Smith UniversityFollow
Sydney Randall, Johnson C. Smith University
Jordyan Grays, Johnson C. Smith University
Mark A. Dugo, Johnson C. Smith University
Brian J. Hunt, Johnson C. Smith University
Justin Brown, Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus
Kyle Van Why, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, Natural Wildlife Research Center, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Sawsan Ammar, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Richard Gerhold, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

ORCID IDs

Rosypal von Dohlen https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4596-9830

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2024

Citation

Journal of Parasitology (2024) 110(3): 206-209

doi: 10.1645/24-24

Comments

United States government work

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan parasite that infects most warm-blooded animals, including birds. Scavenging birds are epidemiologically important hosts because they can serve as indicators of environmental T. gondii levels. A rapid point-of-care (POC) test that detects antibodies to T. gondii in humans is commercially available. In this research, we assessed the ability of the human POC test to detect anti–T. gondii antibodies in 106 black vultures (Coragyps atratus) and 23 ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) from Pennsylvania, USA. Serum samples were tested with the POC test and compared to the modified agglutination test (MAT) in a blinded study. Overall, anti–T. gondii antibodies were detected in 2.8% (3/106) of black vultures and 60.9% (14/23) of ring-billed gulls by the POC test. One false-positive POC test occurred in a black vulture that was negative by MAT. False-negative results were obtained in 2 black vultures and 4 ring-billed gulls that had MAT titers of 1:25 or 1:50. The sensitivity and specificity of the POC for both black vultures and ring-billed gulls combined were 95.7% and 95.5%, respectively. This is the first study using human POC tests to detect antibodies to T. gondii in birds. Further study of the rapid test as a screening tool for serological surveillance of T. gondii in birds is warranted.