Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a widely distributed protozoan disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii. The infective stages of T. gondii are capable of infecting a variety of vertebrates including humans. Domestic and wild felids are capable of serving as definitive hosts and T. gondiioocysts are excreted in their faeces. Toxoplasmosis is caused by ingesting T. gondiioocysts from contaminated water or foodstuff or by consuming T. gondii tissue cysts from infected hosts. However, the impact of oocysts on toxoplasmosis epidemiology needs to be specified because they are suspected to be associated with T. gondii seroprevalence in some emerging outbreaks of acute toxoplasmosis in humans from soil or water. They are probably responsible for a significant part of infections in animals that could be later consumed by humans. Detection of T. gondii oocysts in environmental samples is great challenge as this coccidian parasite can be responsible for severe infections in humans and animals via ingestion of a single oocyst from contaminated water, soil, fruits or vegetables. The present study was designed to develop methods for the detection of oocysts from water, soil and food. The highest prevalence was reported from water around farms (13%) followed by lakes and pools (9%) and water reservoirs (7%). The lowest rates resulted from drinking water and tubewells (6% each). Overall prevalence ofT. gondii contamination was higher in vegetables (5.6 %) than fruits (4 %). The highest prevalence of T. gondii contamination was noted in gardens and backyards of homes and gardens, that is, 20 and 20%, respectively. In these places, cats often defecate and become a source of infection. Then followed by public enclosures where infection was 14.3%. The lowest (13.3%) contamination was noted in homes of urban areas. T. gondiiinfection in rural areas was the highest (20%) in home back yards followed by homes (16.7%) then public enclosure (14.5%) whereas the lowest (13.3%) at gardens of rural areas. Key words: Toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma gondii, detection, water, foodstuff.
Highlights
Toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan disease capable of infecting a variety of animal species and humans (Dubey and Jones, 2008)
Domestic and wild felids are capable of serving as definitive hosts, shedding T. gondii oocysts in their faeces
Serious clinical disease occasionally occurs when organisms cross the placenta in women and infect the foetus in immunocompromised individuals, AIDS patients and rarely in immunocompetent individuals leading to a variety of syndromes including neuroretinitis
Summary
Toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan disease capable of infecting a variety of animal species and humans (Dubey and Jones, 2008). The impact of oocysts on toxoplasmosis epidemiology needs to be specified because they are suspected to be associated with T. gondii seroprevalence in some emerging outbreaks of acute toxoplasmosis in humans from soil or water (Teutsch, 1979; Stagno, 1980; Bowie et al, 1997); they are probably responsible for a significant part of infections in animals that could be later consumed by humans (Tenter et al, 2002). The organism T. gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan that belongs to the phylum Apicomplexa, subclass coccidia It can take several different forms: the oocyst; the tachyzoite; and the tissue cyst. Detection of T. gondii oocysts in environmental samples is a great challenge to researchers as this coccidian parasite can be responsible for severe infec-tions in humans and animals via ingestion of a single oocyst from contaminated water, soil, fruits or vegetables. This study will help in the detection of T. gondii in drinking water, recreational irrigation waters, fruits and vegetables
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