Toxoplasma gondii infection in workers occupationally exposed to unwashed raw fruits and vegetables: a case control seroprevalence study

Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel,Oliver Liesenfeld,Sergio Estrada-Martínez

doi:10.1186/1756-3305-4-235

Abstract

BackgroundThrough a case control seroprevalence study, we sought to determine the association of Toxoplasma gondii infection with occupational exposure to unwashed raw fruits and vegetables.MethodsSubjects, numbering 200, who worked growing or selling fruits and vegetables, and 400 control subjects matched by age, gender, and residence were examined by enzyme immunoassays for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. Socio-demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics from the study subjects were obtained.ResultsOf the 200 fruit and vegetable workers, 15 (7.5%) of whom, and 31 (7.8%) of the 400 controls were positive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies (P = 0.96). Anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies were found in 2 (1%) of the fruit workers and in 11 (2.8%) of the control subjects (P = 0.23). Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies increased with age (P = 0.0004). In addition, seropositivity to Toxoplasma was associated with ill status (P = 0.04), chronic tonsillitis (P = 0.03), and reflex impairment (P = 0.03). Multivariate analysis showed that Toxoplasma infection was associated with consumption of raw meat (OR = 5.77; 95% CI: 1.15-28.79; P = 0.03), unwashed raw fruits (OR = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.11-5.63; P = 0.02), and living in a house with soil floors (OR = 3.10; 95% CI: 1.22-7.88; P = 0.01), whereas Toxoplasma infection was negatively associated with traveling abroad (OR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.12-0.67; P = 0.005).ConclusionsThis is the first report of seroprevalence and contributing factors for Toxoplasma infection in workers occupationally exposed to unwashed raw fruits and vegetables, and the results may help in the design of optimal preventive measures against Toxoplasma infection especially in female workers at reproductive age.

Highlights

Through a case control seroprevalence study, we sought to determine the association of Toxoplasma gondii infection with occupational exposure to unwashed raw fruits and vegetables
Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in workers growing fruits and vegetables was comparable (P = 0.59) with that found in workers of fruit shops (9% vs 6%, respectively)
Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was comparable among workers of the 3 fruit markets: 3 of 34 (8.8%), 5 of 60 (8.3%), and 1 of 6 (16.7%) (P = 0.79)

Summary

Introduction

Through a case control seroprevalence study, we sought to determine the association of Toxoplasma gondii infection with occupational exposure to unwashed raw fruits and vegetables. Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infects humans worldwide [1,2,3]. We have been studying the epidemiology of T. gondii infection in humans [4,5,6,7,8,9] and other animals [10,11] in Durango, Mexico. Occupational exposure to parasite tissue cysts [12,13] and oocysts [13,14] in some population groups has been seropositivity to T. gondii with occupational exposure to unwashed raw fruits and vegetables, and (3) socio-demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics associated with T. gondii seropositivity in workers occupationally exposed to unwashed raw fruits and vegetables

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion