%0 Journal Article
%T RAPID POINT-OF-CARE TESTING FOR DETECTION OF ANTIBODIES TO TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN BLACK VULTURES AND RING-BILLED GULLS FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
%A Rosypal von Dohlen A
%A Randall S
%A Grays J
%A Dugo MA
%A Hunt BJ
%A Brown J
%A Van Why K
%A Ammar S
%A Gerhold R
%J J Parasitol
%V 110
%N 3
%D 2024 May 1
%M 38802105
%F 1.343
%R 10.1645/24-24
%X 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.