Abstract
BackgroundToxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic zoonoses. The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans varies widely worldwide. Detection of Toxoplasma-specific antibodies has been a gold standard method for both epidemiological investigation and clinical diagnosis. Genetic investigation indicated that there is a wide distribution of different genome types or variants of the parasite prevalent in different areas. Thus the reliability of using antigens from parasites of a single genome type for diagnosis and epidemiology purposes needs to be extensively evaluated.MethodsIn this study, the prevalence of T. gondii infection among 880 clinically healthy individuals in China was systematically tested using crude soluble native antigens and purified recombinant antigens of type I and II T. gondii. The T. gondii-specific IgG and IgM in the sera was further confirmed using commercial Toxoplasmosis Diagnosis Kits and Western blot assays.ResultsThe sero-prevalence of T. gondii-specific IgG detected with crude native Type I and type II antigens was 12.2% and 11.3% respectively. Whereas the overall prevalence was more than 20% when combined with the results obtained with recombinant tachyzoite and bradyzoite antigens. There was an obvious variation in immune-recognition of parasite antigens among the individuals studied.ConclusionsThe general prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG in the study population was likely much higher than previously reported. The data also suggested that there is more genetic diversity among the T. gondii isolates in China. Further, combination of recombinant antigens with clear immuno-recognition will be able to generate more sensitive diagnostic results than those obtained with crude antigens of T. gondii tachyzoites.
Highlights
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic zoonoses
We investigated the level of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM in the sera of more than 800 Chinese individuals living in the southern and northern regions of China, comparing crude antigens of RH (Type I) and ME49 (Type II) strains and 12 recombinant antigens of either Type I or Type II T. gondii
The prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG in the study population obtained with crude antigens was 12.2% and 11.3%, respectively (Table 2)
Summary
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic zoonoses. The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans varies widely worldwide. Detection of Toxoplasma-specific antibodies has been a gold standard method for both epidemiological investigation and clinical diagnosis. The reliability of using antigens from parasites of a single genome type for diagnosis and epidemiology purposes needs to be extensively evaluated. Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that can infect domestic, wild, and companion animals, and it commonly infects humans [1]. The importance of this parasite in food safety, human health and animal husbandry has been well recognized. Though T. gondii infection in humans with a normal immune competence is asymptomatic in most cases, the parasites do pose threats to individuals who are immunocompromised, Toxoplasma gondii displays significant genetic diversity in different geographical regions [14,15,16]. It is critical to select accurate antigens for diagnostic and epidemiological purposes
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