Abstract
Background and study aim: Toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a major health problem in which about 30% of people are born with anti Toxoplasma antibodies worldwide. Toxoplasmosis causes congenital infection, neurological and psychatric disorders. The present study aimed to determine prevalence and factors associated with T. gondii infection in Zagazig university students in 2017-2018. Subjects and Methods: Through a cross-sectional study, This study was done in Tropical Medicine Outpatient Clinic and Clinical Pathology Department of Zagazig University Hospitals, and including 159 healthy students coming to do clinical and laboratory evaluation before university attendance at student year 2017-2018. Serum samples were collected and tested for IgG antibodies against T. gondii using ELISA method. Results: In this study 159 healthy students are examined for anti- toxoplasma IgG, 68 males (42.8%) and 91 females (57.2%).65 students have Positive IgG (40.9%), 25.2% (N: 40) of them showing high titre more than 300 and 15.7% (N: 25) of them showing titre low than 300. The percentage of students have no infection is 59.1% (N: 94). There was a significant association between T.gondii seropositivity and age (p=0.007), dealing with animals (p=0.001) eating fast food (p=0.002) and drinking non boiled milk (p=0.001). Conclusion: Toxoplasmosis is present in healthy students. Infection is more prevalent in rural areas due to lack of health education and more dealing with animals. Dealing with animals, eating fast foods and drinking non boiled milk are considered a major risk factor for T.gondii infection.
Highlights
IntroductionToxoplasma gondii (T.gondii) is a crucial intracellular protozoan parasite widely prevalent in humans and animals, throughout the planet ]1[ .It may be a specific parasite of the host (usually cats and other members of the Felidae family) but features a broad range of intermediate hosts, including humans and a number of other wild and livestock
Toxoplasma gondii (T.gondii) is a crucial intracellular protozoan parasite widely prevalent in humans and animals, throughout the planet ]1[ .It may be a specific parasite of the host but features a broad range of intermediate hosts, including humans and a number of other wild and livestock
In this study 159 healthy students are examined for antitoxoplasma IgG, 68 males (42.8%) and 91 females (57.2%)
Summary
Toxoplasma gondii (T.gondii) is a crucial intracellular protozoan parasite widely prevalent in humans and animals, throughout the planet ]1[ .It may be a specific parasite of the host (usually cats and other members of the Felidae family) but features a broad range of intermediate hosts, including humans and a number of other wild and livestock. Under cooked or raw meat from infected animals, or ingestion of food or water contaminated with oocysts excreted by infected fields. It has been found that about 50% of human cases are meat born. Poultry meat is a part of food, consumed widely all over the world; eating uncooked or not properly cooked poultry meat may have a risk factor for T. gondii infection in humans or animals ]4,5[. If we consider the most common food borne pathogens, human toxoplasmosis is considered second cause of death in Western countries.]6[. Toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a major health problem in which about 30% of people are born with anti Toxoplasma antibodies worldwide. Toxoplasmosis causes congenital infection, neurological and psychatric disorders. The present study aimed to determine prevalence and factors associated with T. gondii infection in Zagazig university students in 2017-2018
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