Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in chickens in China during 1993-2021: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Toxoplasma gondii is an important intracellular parasitic protozoan with a variety of hosts, including chickens, which poses a potential threat to public health. However, little is known regarding overall T. gondii infection in chickens in China. Herein, the prevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in chickens in China were investigated using a meta-analysis. Forty studies regarding the prevalence of T. gondii in chickens in China from 1993 to 2021 were identified using five databases (PubMed, Science Direct, CNKI, Wang Fang, and VIP). Quantitative and potential sources were analyzed through subgroup analysis and meta-regression in R v3.5.2. The overall prevalence of T. gondii in chickens in China was 13.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 10.9-16.0). In the region subgroup, the lowest prevalence was presented in Northwestern China (6.0%, 95% CI: 3.2-9.5; P < 0.001). Seasonally, T. gondii prevalence was the highest in spring (17.9%, 95% CI: 7.7-30.9; P = 0.007). Among detection methods, the prevalence in the ELISA subgroup was the highest (22.8%, 95% CI: 17.1-29.1; P < 0.001). According to the farming mode, the prevalence of T. gondii in free-range chickens (19.5%, 95% CI: 15.4-23.9) was significantly higher than that in chickens raised by intensive farming (7.4%, 95% CI: 5.1-10.2; P < 0.001). We also estimated the relationships between region, sampling year, chicken age, chicken application, gender, sample classification, study quality, and T. gondii prevalence in chickens in China. Our study showed that region, season, and farming model played important roles in T. gondii infection of chickens. Integrated control measures should be undertaken to reduce the losses caused by T. gondii infection to the chicken industry.