A sero-epidemiological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infections in high-risk populations in Hangzhou City

Abstract

To understand the status of Toxoplasma gondii infections and the awareness of toxoplasmosis prevention and control knowledge among high-risk populations in Hangzhou City. The serum anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in 100 HIV/AIDS patients, 100 cancer patients, 100 pregnant women and 100 healthy controls, and the awareness of toxoplasmosis prevention and control knowledge was investigated using a questionnaire. The sero-prevalence of T. gondii infection was 31%, 30% and 21% in HIV/AIDS patients, cancer patients and pregnant women, which was all significantly higher than in healthy controls (χ2 = 14.68, 13.96 and 7.56, all P values < 0.01). The pregnant women had a high awareness rate of toxoplasmosis prevention and control knowledge, and the healthy controls had a low awareness rate. In addition, the subjects had a low awareness rate regarding the questions including"Do you know the damages of Toxoplasma gondii infections?", "Do you know that consumption of raw or uncooked meat may cause Toxoplasma gondii infections?", and"Do you know that contact with contaminated soil may cause Toxoplasma gondii infections?". The sero-prevalence of T. gondii infection is high among the high-risk populations in Hangzhou City, including the HIV/AIDS patients, cancer patients and pregnant women, and these high-risk populations have a low awareness rate of some toxoplasmosis prevention and control knowledge. Therefore, it is essential to improve the health education of toxoplasmosis prevention and control knowledge among the high-risk populations, so as to effectively prevent and control human T. gondii infections.