Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum contaminations in poultry eggs: molecular surveillance in three different geographical regions of Iran

Abstract Background Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are important protozoan parasites with worldwide distribution among warm-blooded animals. Moreover, T. is a zoonotic parasite that infects humans. Poultries intermediated hosts of N. . However, little known about the contamination poultry eggs these parasites. We aimed to investigate molecular frequency chicken, domestic duck, quail from three different geographic regions Iran. were detected by PCR targeting RE Nc5 genes, respectively. Findings Overall rates 10.7 5.9%, The overall 12.2, 15.5, 4.4%, respectively; while was in 11.1, 3.3, 1.1% same samples, increased increasing humidity across regions. Conclusions Taken together, this study indicates caninum. possibility egg-born transmission should not be neglected consuming raw soft-boiled eggs. Furthermore, could an indicator for environmental