The determination of Toxoplasma gondii prevalence in a variety of domestic birds is thought as a good indicator of
distribution of T.gondii ooccyts in the environment. To verify the potential role of domestic birds in circulating toxoplasmosis
in Iran, the present study was conducted in Mazandaran Provinces, northern Iran. Latex agglutination test (LA) antibodies
were found in 25 of 58 free-ranging chickens (Gallus domesticus) and ducks (Anas sp.). Also, viable T. gondii was isolated
from 7 of 25 seropositive chickens and ducks by bioassay of their brains and hearts into mice. Most of the isolated
strains were avirulant to mice. Genotyping of T.gondii isolates using Multiplex PCR for 5 microsatellite markers indicated
that 7 isolates were type III. In this study type II and III isolates and mixed genotypes were not found. This study showed
that domestic birds could have a potential role in transmitting toxoplasmosis to humans in Iran.
