Toxoplasmosis in Chickens - How serious is it?

[Spetznaaz]

Hello,

We recently got two Silkies and last night i was reading about chicken parasites where i discovered they can get the dreaded T. Gondii. The problem is, we have like 4 of the neighbours cats that come into our garden and use it as a toilet (as well as try and eat our girls). I hadn't even considered it before but the chickens have almost certainly come into contact with cat feces. If they don't already have toxoplasmosis then i would say it's only a matter of time, unless i never let them come out of their run, which they love doing.

I've read some people on here say to kill them if they have it... that seems a bit extreme considering cats are far more of a risk factor (i would have thought) and i don't think i could ever bring myself to kill our girls, plus it would pretty much mean we can't get any more.

I know toxoplasmosis can be transmitted to humans, you can never get rid of it and it messes with your brain (reduces reaction time, more likely to get schizophrenia, suicidal tendencies etc). I've always thought the seriousness of it is underplayed considering how it's for life and affects your mind (kind of like the Herpes Simplex virus).

So yeah i'm very worried and not sure how to proceed.. I couldn't find much information on the risk from eggs - I read somewhere that the chickens are only infectious for a short while but couldn't find that written anywhere else and they say eggs are a very low risk however that's probably because T Gondii prevalence is very low in commercial hens vs backyard hens.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[azygous]

Your concerns may be overblown. I just spent a little time with Mr Google, and it appears:


The prevalence of oocyst shedding in cats is very low (0-1%), even though at least 15-40% of cats have been infected with Toxoplasma at some point. This means very few cats at any one time are actually able to pass their infection on to people.

It also appears that your chickens may have a higher chance of being infected by humans than cats since more bipeds are infected than cats at any given time.

 

[Kiki]

I wouldn't worry one second longer about this.

I'd recommend spending your time learning about how easily chicken diseases are spread in between flocks and make sure that when you decide to add a new bird or two to your existing flock you quarantine all new birds for a really long time far away from your current flock.

 

[Spetznaaz]

I certainly hope that is correct however i have read numerous studies now that have tested backyard chickens and in most cases between 80-100 percent of chickens were infected. It seems to apparently be very common in home chickens (not so much in commercial) and cats / contaminated soil are, from what i have read, the reason behind it.

Apparently T. Gondii oocysts can live in soil for over a year.

Edit - Just seen the above post. I certainly wish i could turn my worrying off lol but from what i am reading this is a very serious (to Humans) and prevalent issue. I have been doing lot's of reading about how things are spread amongst chickens and that's where i found out they can host T. Gondii (which i should have known anyway as i already knew a decent bit about the organism).

Apparently a third of all people are already infected.. I've considered getting myself tested but as there is no cure i don't think i really want to know.

I guess i could get the girls tested and if they do have it then get myself tested and if i have it then i guess it's a non issue as long as only i eat the eggs.

Also interesting thing i read for anyone reading this - One study found out of 300 or so eggs from i think 16 infected hens, one of the eggs did contain viable T. Gondii. The risk from eggs certainly isn't zero. Plus they found cooking for 4 minutes did not kill it.

 

[Eggcessive]

I think we can get all worked up by reading about various diseases on the internet sometimes. Many anti-chicken people like to write about such things online. Chickens may also harbor campylobator and salmonella, which is why we need to wash our hands after handling them, and cook the meat until done.

Personally I have had chickens for 12 years, along with cats, dogs, and formerly horses without any problems. Anyone who has a pet cat and empties a litter box should probably wear a mask, but I haven’t.

 

[Spetznaaz]

I think we can get all worked up by reading about various diseases on the internet sometimes. Many anti-chicken people like to write about such things online. Chickens may also harbor campylobator and salmonella, which is why we need to wash our hands after handling them, and cook the meat until done.

Personally I have had chickens for 12 years, along with cats, dogs, and formerly horses without any problems. Anyone who has a pet cat and empties a litter box should probably wear a mask, but I haven’t.

As i'm sure you can tell i'm a little bit neurotic lol

The thing about campylobator and salmonella is they aren't for life whereas toxoplasmosis is, which troubles me deeply. The thing about toxoplasmosis is most people have no idea they have contracted it and it has been linked to numerous behavioral changes. The horrible little thing makes mice lose their fear and even become attracted to cats to continue it's life cycle.

 

[azygous]

There is no question the world is a dangerous place. Just yesterday, I came within two feet of the loveliest rattlesnake trucking along merrily in the general heading of my chicken run. Granted, the snake and I were fifty yards away from the chickens when we had our brief encounter, and chances are it veered off in an entirely different direction from there. But should I lock up my chickens and should I stay inside my house now that I know a snake is lurking somewhere out there?

No. I'll just do what I've always done, just keep the premises cleared of weeds and tall grass and watch where I put my hands and feet. That goes for preventing disease. Keep on keeping my run and coops clean and wash my hands every time I come inside from handling my chickens.

This has worked for fifteen years and four rattlesnakes during that time of keeping chickens.

 

[Kiki]

As i'm sure you can tell i'm a little bit neurotic lol

The thing about campylobator and salmonella is they aren't for life whereas toxoplasmosis is, which troubles me deeply. The thing about toxoplasmosis is most people have no idea they have contracted it and it has been linked to numerous behavioral changes. The horrible little thing makes mice lose their fear and even become attracted to cats to continue it's life cycle.

A lot of the chicken related diseases are for life.
They don't just go away because you treat the symptoms. And the respiratory type diseases are a million times more common than this stuff you're worried about.

 

[Spetznaaz]

A lot of the chicken related diseases are for life.
They don't just go away because you treat the symptoms. And the respiratory type diseases are a million times more common than this stuff you're worried about.

Interesting. What "for life" (in humans) zoonotic diseases can chickens have other than toxoplasmosis?

Just to add in case i wasn't clear - It's not the hens i'm worried about (they rarely show symptoms) it's me and my family.

There is no question the world is a dangerous place. Just yesterday, I came within two feet of the loveliest rattlesnake trucking along merrily in the general heading of my chicken run. Granted, the snake and I were fifty yards away from the chickens when we had our brief encounter, and chances are it veered off in an entirely different direction from there. But should I lock up my chickens and should I stay inside my house now that I know a snake is lurking somewhere out there?

No. I'll just do what I've always done, just keep the premises cleared of weeds and tall grass and watch where I put my hands and feet. That goes for preventing disease. Keep on keeping my run and coops clean and wash my hands every time I come inside from handling my chickens.

This has worked for fifteen years and four rattlesnakes during that time of keeping chickens.

Your analogy is flawed for numerous reasons.

I'm curious about your response to this hypothetical example: Some of your hens have toxoplasmosis. You do not currently have it. The chances of it being passed on through an egg is low but possible, including fully cooked easy over eggs. The disease will causes permanent neurological defects if you catch it.

If all the above was a certainty, would you still not be worried? The only likely difference (assuming your hens are allowed to free range) between that hypothetical situation and reality is that it won't necessarily cause noticeable neurological issues.

 

[azygous]

I choose to focus my energy in dealing with real life situations rather than waste it on hypotheticals.