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<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Toxoplasma gondii</it> infection is a global concern, affecting a wide range of warm-blooded animals and humans worldwide, including poultry. Domestic and companion birds are considered to play an important role in the transmission of <it>T. gondii</it> to humans and other animals. However, little information on <it>T. gondii</it> infection in domestic birds in Lanzhou, northwest China was available. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the seroprevalence of <it>T. gondii</it> infection in domestic birds in Lanzhou, northwest China.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the present study, the seroprevalence of <it>T. gondii</it> antibodies in 413 (305 caged and 108 free-range) adult chickens, 334 (111 caged and 223 free-range) adult ducks and 312 adult pigeons in Lanzhou, northwest China, were examined using the modified agglutination test (MAT).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>30 (7.26%) chickens, 38 (11.38%) ducks and 37 (11.86%) pigeons were found to be positive for <it>T. gondii</it> antibodies at the cut-off of 1:5. The prevalences in caged and free-range chickens were 6.23% and 10.19% respectively, however, statistical analysis showed that the difference was not significant (<it>P ></it> 0.05). The seroprevalences in caged and free-range ducks were 6.31% and 13.90% respectively, but the difference was not statistically significant (<it>P ></it> 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results of the present survey indicated the presence of <it>T. gondii</it> infection in adult chickens, ducks and pigeons sold for meat in poultry markets in Lanzhou, northwest China, which poses a potential risk for <it>T. gondii</it> infection in humans and other animals in this region. This is the first seroprevalence study of <it>T. gondii</it> infection in domestic birds in this region.</p>