TOXOPLASMA GONDII INFECTION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN MUKALLA CITY, HADHRAMOUT, YEMEN: FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SEROPREVALENCE

Toxoplasma gondii, responsible for toxoplasmosis, is one of the worldwide prevalent parasitic zoonoses infecting warm-blooded animals including humans with cats being the definitive host. Congenital transmission can occur and leads to congenital toxoplasmosis, which may result in foetal or neonatal death, or severe malformations. In this study, we aimed to determine the seroprevalence and associated factors among pregnant women in a rural setting of Burkina Faso. We conducted a cross-sectional study from December 2020 to March 2021 in the Nanoro health district area. Women attending antenatal care for the first time at the selected health centers were enrolled in the study. For each participant, socio-demographic and clinical data were collected through a questionnaire. In addition, venous blood was drawn for the detection and avidity determination of IgG antibodies to T. gondii by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with seropositivity. Out of 416 participants, 37.3% were positive for specific anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies and only two of 149 women with interpretable results (1.3%) had low avidity IgG antibodies suggestive of recent primary infection. Younger age (16-18 years) was significantly associated with seronegativity (OR = 0.48, 95% CI:0.27-0.86, p = 0.013), while multipara (OR = 2.20, 95% CI:1.37-3.76, p value = 0.001) and multigravida (OR = 2.27, 95% CI:1.37-3.76, p = 0.001) were significantly more likely seropositive. The multivariate logistic regression showed that being at the third trimester of pregnancy (OR = 4.17, 95% CI:1.68-10.36, p = 0.002) and being often in contact with a cat (OR = 1.72, 95% CI:1.03-2.37, p = 0.035) were significantly associated with seropositivity. Our findings suggest that Toxoplasma gondii is widespread in the area, resulting in a high exposure risk of pregnant women and we indeed found two women with evidence of recent exposure. To avoid the potentially serious consequences to the foetus, there is an urgent need for systematic screening during antenatal care visits and awareness campaigns.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in pregnant women in Matehuala City, Mexico; and the associated risk factors.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingMatehuala City, Mexico.Participants311 pregnant...

BackgroundToxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in pregnant women represents a risk for congenital disease. There is scarce information about the epidemiology of T. gondii infection in pregnant women in Mexico. Therefore, we sought to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection and associated socio-demographic, clinical and behavioural characteristics in a population of pregnant women of Durango City, Mexico.MethodsThree hundred and forty three women seeking prenatal care in a public hospital of Durango City in Mexico were examined for T. gondii infection. All women were tested for anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG antibodies by using IMx Toxo IgM and IMx Toxo IgG 2.0 kits (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA), respectively. Socio-demographic, clinical and behavioural characteristics from each participant were also obtained.ResultsTwenty one out of the 343 (6.1%) women had IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies. None of the 343 women had IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies. Multivariate analysis using logic regression showed that T. gondii infection was associated with living in a house with soil floor (adjusted OR = 7.16; 95% CI: 1.39–36.84), residing outside of Durango State (adjusted OR = 4.25; 95% CI: 1.72–10.49), and turkey meat consumption (adjusted OR = 3.85; 95% CI: 1.30–11.44). Other characteristics as cat contact, gardening, and food preferences did not show any association with T. gondii infection.ConclusionThe prevalence of T. gondii infection in pregnant women of Durango City is low as compared with those reported in other regions of Mexico and the majority of other countries. Poor housing conditions as soil floors, residing in other Mexican States, and turkey meat consumption might contribute to acquire T. gondii infection.

We aimed to determine the association between the seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii and the ABO and Rh blood groups in 2,053 people. ABO and Rhesus blood groups and anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were determined using commercially available assays. Of the 2,053 people studied, 171(8.3%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies. Sixty-five (38.0%) and 36 (21.1%) of these 171 individuals had high anti-T. gondii IgG antibody levels (≥150 IU mL-1) and anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies, respectively. We found the following prevalences of T. gondii infection among the ABO groups: 8.5% in group A, 4.3% in group B, 4.7% in group AB, and 8.9% in group O (P = 0.19). The prevalences of T. gondii infection among Rh groups were: 8.4% in the Rh-positive group and 7.1% in theRh-negative group (P = 0.58). Logistic regression analysis showed that the frequencies of ABO andRh blood groups were similar (P > 0.05) among people with positive and negative serology for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies, with high (≥150 IU mL-1) and lower (<150 IU mL-1) levels of anti-T.gondii IgG antibodies, and with positive and negative serology for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. Results does not support an association between T. gondii infection and ABO and Rh blood groups.

The seroepidemiology of infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in alcohol consumers is largely undeveloped. In light of this, we sought to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in alcohol consumers in Durango, Mexico, and the association of T. gondii seroprevalence with characteristics of the population studied. Anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were searched in sera of participants using commercially available enzyme immunoassays. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were then used to determine the association between T. gondii infection and the characteristics of the population studied. Of the 1544 people studied (mean age: 39.4±14.0 years), 173 (11.2%) tested positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies. We were able to test 167 of the 173 anti-T. gondii IgG positive sera for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. Fifty-five (32.9%) of these 167 serum samples were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. Bivariate analysis showed that visual impairment, history of surgery, and hepatitis were negatively associated with T. gondii IgG seropositivity (P<0.05). In women, seropositivity to T. gondii was positively associated with a history of pregnancy (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with the variables consumption of armadillo meat (OR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.04–5.22; P = 0.03), and the use of latrines for elimination of excretes (OR = 2.27; 95% CI: 1.07–4.80; P = 0.03); and high (>150 IU/ml) anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were associated with consumption of both armadillo meat (OR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.01–5.02; P = 0.04) and crowding at home (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.02–2.61; P = 0.03). We found a distinct T. gondii seroprevalence in people with alcohol consumption from those previously found in population groups in the region. This is the first study that illustrates the association between high anti-T. gondii antibodies and crowding in Mexico, and the second study on the association between T. gondii infection and consumption of armadillo meat and the use of latrines in this country. We conclude that epidemiology of T. gondii infection in people with alcohol consumption deserves further investigation.

The seroepidemiology of infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in alcohol consumers is largely undeveloped. In light of this, we sought to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in alcohol consumers in Durango, Mexico, and the association of T. gondii seroprevalence with characteristics of the population studied. Anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were searched in sera of participants using commercially available enzyme immunoassays. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were then used to determine the association between T. gondii infection and the characteristics of the population studied. Of the 1544 people studied (mean age: 39.4±14.0 years), 173 (11.2%) tested positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies. We were able to test 167 of the 173 anti-T. gondii IgG positive sera for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. Fifty-five (32.9%) of these 167 serum samples were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. Bivariate analysis showed that visual impairment, history of surgery, and hepatitis were negatively associated with T. gondii IgG seropositivity (P<0.05). In women, seropositivity to T. gondii was positively associated with a history of pregnancy (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with the variables consumption of armadillo meat (OR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.04-5.22; P = 0.03), and the use of latrines for elimination of excretes (OR = 2.27; 95% CI: 1.07-4.80; P = 0.03); and high (>150 IU/ml) anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were associated with consumption of both armadillo meat (OR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.01-5.02; P = 0.04) and crowding at home (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.02-2.61; P = 0.03). We found a distinct T. gondii seroprevalence in people with alcohol consumption from those previously found in population groups in the region. This is the first study that illustrates the association between high anti-T. gondii antibodies and crowding in Mexico, and the second study on the association between T. gondii infection and consumption of armadillo meat and the use of latrines in this country. We conclude that epidemiology of T. gondii infection in people with alcohol consumption deserves further investigation.

Toxoplasmosis, caused by infection of the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is associated with mild disease in healthy individuals, whereas individuals with depressed immunity may develop encephalitis, neurologic disorders, and other organ diseases. Women who develop acute toxoplasmosis during pregnancy are at risk of transmitting the infection to the fetus, which may lead to fetal damage. A diagnosis is usually confirmed by measuring IgG, or IgM where it is important to determine the onset of infection. A negative IgM result essentially excludes acute infection, whereas a positive IgM test is largely uninterpretable because IgM can persist for up to 18 months after infection. To identify antigens for improved diagnosis of acute infection, we probed protein microarrays displaying the polypeptide products of 1357 Toxoplasma exons with well-characterized sera from Turkey. The sera were classified according to conventional assays into (1) seronegative individuals with no history of T. gondii infection; (2) acute infections defined by clinical symptoms, high IgM titers, and low avidity IgG; (3) chronic/convalescent cases with high avidity IgG but persisting IgM; (iv) true chronic infections, defined by high avidity IgG and no IgM. We have identified 38 IgG target antigens and 108 IgM target antigens that can discriminate infected patients from healthy controls, one or more of which could form the basis of a 'tier-1' test to determine current or previous exposure. Of these, three IgG antigens and five IgM antigens have the potential to discriminate chronic/IgM persisting or true chronics from recent acutely infected patients (a 'tier-2' test). Our analysis of the antigens revealed several enriched features relative to the whole proteome, which include transmembrane domains, signal peptides, or predicted localization at the outer membrane. This is the first protein microarray survey of the antibody response to T. gondii, and will help in the development of improved serodiagnostics and vaccines.

Objective To investigate the relationship between Toxoplasma gondii (T.gondii) infection and metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods A total of 20 577 patients who received serum test of anti-T.gondii IgG antibody in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of the United States from 2009 to 2014 were collected to analyze the clinical features of anti-T.gondii IgG antibody positive patients, and to compare metabolic related indicators in the antibody IgG positive and negative groups. The independent sample t-test, chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis were used to explore the risk factors of MS. Results A total of 2 746 participants were positive for the T. gondii antibody (13.34%), with a higher prevalence of male (14.44% vs 12.27%, χ2=15.99, P< 0.01). Meanwhile, the prevalence of T. gondii increased with age and body mass index (BMI) (χ2=979.98 and 50.85, respectively, both P<0.01). Among the 2 191 patients with MS, 449 (20.49%) patients were positive for T. gondii. While 2 297(12.49%) patients were anti-T.gondii positive in 18 386 non-MS patients. The difference was statistically significant (χ2=78.504, P<0.01). Age (t=-37.37), BMI (t=-4.28), glycosylated hemoglobin (t=-11.81), fasting blood glucose (t=-9.38), triacylglycerol (t=-6.32), cholesterol (t=-7.16), serum uric acid (t=-5.25) and serum creatinine (t=-7.69) in the seropositive group were all higher than those in the seronegative group (all P<0.01). After adjusting for age and gender, the prevalence of T. gondii was an independent risk factor for MS (odds ratio [OR]=1.147, P=0.023). Conclusions BMI, blood lipids, blood uric acid and blood glucose are significantly increased in patients with T. gondii infection. T. gondii infection is an independent risk factor for MS. Key words: Metabolic syndrome; Risk factors; Toxoplasma gondii

Objectives Congenital infection with Toxoplasma gondii is known to result in neurological and brain disorders including ophthalmic disorders later in life. Research in Ghana revealed high sero-prevalence among pregnant women and eye patients. This study determines the risk of congenital transmission of T. gondii infection in Accra, Ghana. Methods One hundred consented pregnant women aged 18-45years (mean 29.85±5.76) participated. Venous blood and tissue samples were taken from the maternal side of each placenta after delivery. Cord blood samples were also taken after they were separated from the infants. Finger-prick blood was taken from infants of participating women at 2 or 6weeks post-natal. ELISA was used to detect T. gondii antibodies in all blood samples while Nested-PCR was used to detect T. gondii DNA from placental tissues. Data was analysed using SPSS v. 16. Results Overall, 37.6% of maternal blood, 39.5% of umbilical cord blood, and 57.5% of post-natal infant blood were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG. No anti-T. gondii IgM was detected in any of those samples. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in 39.8% of placental tissue samples. Strong association was observed in the occurrence of placental T. gondii DNA and anti-T. gondii IgG positive women (ø=0.810, p<0.00001) as well as high Relative risk shown in the likelihood of foetal exposure to infection in latently-infected women (RR 10.39; CI 4.47-24.17; p<0.00001). Conclusions for Practice The presence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies only, and T. gondii DNA in placental tissues indicate the women might have been infected early during the pregnancy, placing about 39.8% of the babies at risk. These results can strongly influence policy to screen and treat pregnant women for T. gondii infection.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is distinguished by the fluctuation of disease activity and the production of pathogenic autoantibodies. Infectious agents, such as Toxoplasma gondii, have been proposed to be candidate environmental factors able to influence autoimmune responses. Nevertheless, relationship between T. gondii infection and autoantibody profiles among patients with SLE is not fully realized yet especially in endemic areas. Objective: study the roles of Toxoplasma gondii infection on levels and prevalence of anti-ribosomal P, anti–double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), and anti-chromatin (minor DNA) autoantibodies, in addition to disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Methods: A cross-sectional study which included 100 lupus patients Al-Najaf hospitals. Study period between June 2024 to July 2025. Sunscreen-naive SLE patients were categorized by T. gondii infection: 48 who were with infection and 52 who were without infection. Anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were determined by ELISA. Serum antibodies to dsDNA, ribosomal P and chromatin were assessed by ELISA. Disease activity was evaluated based on the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Group comparisons, correlation analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analyses. Results: The seropositivity of T. gondii IgG was considerably higher in SLE patients (48.0% P = 0.03). Anti-dsDNA antibodies (p &lt; 0.001) and anti-chromatin antibodies (p &lt; 0.001) were significantly elevated in seropositive SLE patients., in comparison with seronegative subjects. Patients with T. gondii were more likely to possess anti-ribosomal P antibodies (45.8%; 23.1%, p = 0.01) and these were linked to neuropsychiatric presentation. SLEDAI score was significantly higher in the T. gondii positive group (p &lt; 0.001). Positive correlations were found between the titer of T. gondii IgG antibodies, the levels of autoantibodies, and disease activity. On multivariate analysis, T. gondii seropositivity was an independent predictor of high disease activity (OR = 3.4, 95% CI: 1.6–7.1). Conclusions: T gondii infection is correlated with elevated autoantibodies titers and higher SLE activity. These results suggest that chronic toxoplasmosis may act as an immunological modulator in SLE and the need to consider the etiology of parasite infections in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases, especially when these are endemic. Keywords: Systemic lupus erythematosus; Toxoplasma gondii; anti-dsDNA; anti-ribosomal P antibodies; antichromatin antibodies; disease activity

IntroductionNeurotropic pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) which result in chronic infections in the brain are associated with mental illnesses. In view of this, a growing body of literature has revealed the possible interaction of schizophrenia and T. gondii infection.MethodA case-control study was conducted from February 2018 to January 2019 among 47 Schizophrenia patients and 47 age and sex-matched controls. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Serum was used for serological analysis of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies through chemiluminescent immunoassay. Proportions and mean with standard deviations (SD) were used as descriptive measures and variables with p-values <0.05 were considered as statistically significant and independently associated with schizophrenia.ResultThe mean ages of schizophrenia patients and controls were 29.64 ± 5.8 yrs and 30.98 ± 7.3 yrs, respectively. We found that 81.9% (77/94) of the study subjects had a positive anti-T. gondii IgG antibody. While the difference is statistically insignificant, schizophrenic patients have a marginally higher seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis than controls (87.2% vs 80.9%; p = 0.398). Schizophrenia cases who live in homes with soil floors have a significantly higher T. gondii infection as compared to those who live in homes with cement/ceramic floors (90.9% vs 33.3%; p = 0.004). Furthermore, there was a significantly lower T. gondii infection among schizophrenic cases who were taking antipsychotic medication for more than three yrs (79.3% vs 100.0%, p = 0.039). On the other hand, among all study subjects who have T. gondii infection, subjects who are addicted to khat and alcohol were about seven times more likely to develop schizophrenia (71.4% vs 47.7%, OR = 7.13, p = 0.024).ConclusionOur data is not sufficient to show a significant positive correlation between T. gondii infection and schizophrenia. For study subjects with T. gondii infection, addiction to khat and alcohol is one of the risk factors for schizophrenia.

Objectives:This study aimed to determine the association between infection with Toxoplasma gondii and epilepsy in patients attended to in a public hospital in the northern Mexican city of Durango.Methods:We performed an age- and gender-matched case-control study of 99 patients suffering from epilepsy and 99 without epilepsy. Sera of participants were analyzed for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using commercially available enzyme-linked immunoassays. Seropositive samples to T. gondii were further analyzed for detection of T. gondii DNA by polymerase chain reaction.Results:Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 10 (10.1%) of the 99 cases and in 6 (6.1%) of the 99 controls (odds ratio = 1.74; 95% confidence interval: 0.60–4.99; p = 0.43). High (> 150 IU/mL) levels of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 6 of the 99 cases and in 4 of the 99 controls (odds ratio = 1.53; 95% confidence interval: 0.41–5.60; p = 0.74). Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were found in 2 of the 10 IgG seropositive cases, and in 2 of the 6 IgG seropositive controls (odds ratio = 0.50; 95% confidence interval: 0.05–4.97; p = 0.60). T. gondii DNA was not found in any of the 10 anti-T. gondii IgG positive patients. Bivariate analysis of IgG seropositivity to T. gondii and International Statistical Classification of Diseases and related Health Problems, 10th Edition codes of epilepsy showed an association between seropositivity and G40.1 code (odds ratio = 22.0; 95% confidence interval: 2.59–186.5; p = 0.008). Logistic regression analysis showed an association between T. gondii infection and consumption of goat meat (odds ratio = 6.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.22–34.64; p = 0.02), unwashed raw vegetables (odds ratio = 26.3; 95% confidence interval: 2.61–265.23; p = 0.006), and tobacco use (odds ratio = 6.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.06–36.66; p = 0.04).Conclusions:Results suggest that T. gondii infection does not increase the risk of epilepsy in our setting; however, infection might be linked to specific types of epilepsy. Factors associated with T. gondii infection found in this study may aid in the design of preventive measures against toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasma gondii can be transmitted to humans through consumption of raw or undercooked meat containing live tissue cysts, consumption of water or food contaminated with oocysts shed from cat feces, and vertical transmission during pregnancy or through tissue, organ, and blood transfusion. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii in patients admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Çankırı State Hospital (ÇSH). In this study, anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibody levels of 62 pregnant women between the ages of 17 and 47 who applied to ÇSH gynecology and obstetrics outpatient clinic for normal pregnancy follow-up between June 2022 and January 2023 were investigated. According to the results of the studies, anti-T gondii IgG positivity is 12.9% and negative 87.1% and anti-T. gondii IgM positivity is 0% while it was found to be 100% negative. According to these results, it is reported that the majority of pregnant women do not encounter T. gondii and; therefore, they should be more careful in terms of congenital toxoplasmosis. T. gondii can be transmitted to humans through consumption of water or food contaminated with oocysts excreted in cat feces and through vertical transmission or tissue, organ, and blood transfusion during pregnancy. Therefore, pregnant women should be carefully monitored for T. gondii.

We determined the association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection and insomnia. Through an age-and gender-matched case-control study, 577 people with insomnia (cases) and 577 people without insomnia (controls) were tested for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using commercially available enzyme-immunoassays. Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 71 (12.3%) of 577 individuals with insomnia and in 46 (8.0%) of 577 controls (OR = 1.62; 95% CI: 1.09–2.39; P = 0.01). Men with insomnia had a higher (16/73: 21.9%) seroprevalence of T. gondii infection than men without insomnia (5/73: 6.8%) (OR: 3.81; 95% CI: 1.31–11.06; P = 0.009). The rate of high (>150 IU/ml) anti-T. gondii IgG antibody levels in cases was higher than the one in controls (OR = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.13–4.31; P = 0.01). Men with insomnia had a higher (8/73: 11.0%) rate of high anti-T. gondii IgG antibody levels than men without insomnia (0/73: 0.0%) (P = 0.006). The rate of high anti-T. gondii IgG antibody levels in cases >50 years old (11/180: 6.1%) was higher than that (3/180: 1.7%) in controls of the same age group (OR: 3.84; 95% CI: 1.05–14.00; P = 0.05). No difference in the rate of IgM seropositivity between cases and controls was found (OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 0.57–3.11; P = 0.50). Results of this seroepidemiology study suggest that infection with T. gondii is associated with insomnia. Men older than 50 years with T. gondii exposure might be prone to insomnia. Further research to confirm the association between seropositivity and serointensity to T. gondii and insomnia is needed.

Whereas it is well-known that the seroprevalence of infection with Toxoplasma gondii increases with age, details of the seroepidemiology of infection in elderly people are largely unknown. Anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibody levels were determined in 483 subjects aged ≥60 years old in Durango City, Mexico, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Socio-demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics from each participant were also obtained. In total, 58 (12%) of 483 participants (mean age 70.35±6.63 years) had anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies, and 14 (2.9%) also had anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. Seroprevalence of infection varied significantly with age, birthplace, and educational level. Seroprevalence increased with age, especially in women (p=0.01), and was higher in subjects born outside of Durango State than those born within Durango State (p=0.008). Seroprevalence was higher in men with up to 12 years of education than in men with more than 12 years of education (p=0.01). Multivariate analysis of behavioral data showed a positive association of T. gondii infection with the presence of cats in the neighborhood, as well as consumption of boar, pigeon, iguana, and armadillo meats, and chorizo. Gender-specific analysis showed the described associations in women but not in men. In contrast, consumption of beef showed a negative association with T. gondii infection. This is the first report of the seroprevalence and contributing factors for T. gondii infection in elderly people, and of an association of the consumption of armadillo and iguana meats with T. gondii infection. Our results will provide the basis for the design of optimal preventive measures against T. gondii infection.