Abstract
A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma infection and its risk association among people having close contact with animals. A total of 312 blood samples were collected from veterinary personnel (veterinarian, technicians, and students) and pet owners from veterinary clinics and hospitals in the area of Klang Valley, Malaysia. About 4 cc of blood samples drawn from agreed participants were processed for measurement of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies as well as avidity test of Toxoplasma IgG by ELISA I, II, and III kits. Meanwhile, the demographic profiles and possible risk factors of these participants were also recorded in the standardized data collection sheets. Overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was observed in 62 (19.9%) participants being 7 (18.4%) in veterinarians, 15 (33.3%) in veterinary technicians, 29 (14.9%) in veterinary students, and 11 (31.4%) in pet owners. Of 19.9% Toxoplasma seropositive samples, 18.3% was positive for IgG antibody, 1.0% for IgM antibody, and 0.6% for both IgG and IgM antibodies. Of three different IgG avidity ELISA kits, ELISA III showed high avidity in all five seropositive samples (IgM and IgG/IgM antibodies) indicating chronic Toxoplasma infection which is consistent with no evidence of clinical toxoplasmosis diagnosed during the time of this study. Univariate analysis showed that age group, gender, study population, gardening, task performance, and working duration were significantly associated with Toxoplasma seropositivity. Further analysis by multivariate analysis using logistic regression showed that age group of ≥30 years old (OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.18–0.63, p = 0.001) and working or study duration of >10 years having close contact with animals (OR = 5.07, 95% CI = 1.80–14.24, p = 0.002) were identified as significant risks for Toxoplasma infection. Based on the results obtained, a comprehensive Toxoplasma screening and health surveillance program on toxoplasmosis should be implemented among people having close contact with animals in general and confirmed Toxoplasma seronegative individuals in particular to prevent seroconversion.
Highlights
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite is capable of causing both the infection rate that affects approximately one-third of human populations worldwide and the disease burden of clinical toxoplasmosis in human
The overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in this study was 62 (19.9%) in which 57 (18.3%) samples were positive for IgG, 3 (1.0%) samples were positive for IgM, and 2 (0.7%) samples were positive for both IgG and IgM antibodies (Table 1)
WHY TOXOPLASMOSIS IS IMPORTANT The present study showed the overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among people having close contact with animals was 19.9% and this infection rate did not appear to be very high
Summary
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite (a zoonotic pathogen) is capable of causing both the infection rate that affects approximately one-third of human populations worldwide and the disease burden of clinical toxoplasmosis in human. T. gondii poses a greater risk especially found among pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. Small percentage of infected newborns develop mild to severe clinical manifestations such as lymphadenopathy, fever and malaise in mild infection, ocular disease and mental illness in moderate manifestation, and severe cases among infected pregnant women will lead to stillbirth, abortion, or live birth children with central nervous system impairment or impaired vision [5]. Infected newborns with more virulent types of T. gondii may lead to severe and even fatal diseases with pulmonary and multi-visceral involvement [5]
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