Gondii IgG Research Articles

Association between Suicide and Toxoplasma gondii Seropositivity.

This study aimed to determine the association between suicide and Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) seropositivity. Serum samples of 89 decedents who committed suicide (cases) and 58 decedents who did not commit suicide (controls) were tested for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were further detected by enzyme-linked fluorescence assay (ELFA). A total of 8 (9.0%) of the 89 cases and 6 (10.3%) of the 58 controls were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies (OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.28–2.60; p = 0.78). Anti-T. gondii IgG levels were higher than 150 IU/mL in two (2.2%) cases and in five (8.6%) controls (OR: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.04–1.30; p = 0.11). Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were not found in any case or control using the enzyme immunoassay and were found in only one (1.7%) control using ELFA (p = 0.39). Rates of IgG seropositivity and high levels of anti-T. gondii antibodies were similar in cases and in controls regardless of their sex or age groups. The results do not support an association between T. gondii seropositivity and suicide. However, the statistical power of the test was low. Further research is necessary to confirm this lack of association.

Characterization and evaluation of a recombinant multiepitope peptide antigen MAG in the serological diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigs

BackgroundToxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii is a serious disease threatening human and animal health. People can be infected with T. gondii by ingesting raw pork contaminated with cysts or oocysts. Serological test is a sensitive and specific method usually used for large-scale diagnosis of T. gondii infection in humans and animals (such as pigs). Commercial pig Toxoplasma antibody ELISA diagnostic kits are expensive, which limits their use; moreover, the wide antigen composition used in these diagnostic kits is still unclear and difficult to standardize. The multiepitope peptide antigen is a novel diagnostic marker, and it has potential to be developed into more accurate and inexpensive diagnostic kits.MethodsThe synthetic multiepitope antigen (MAG) cDNA encoding a protein with epitopes from five T. gondii-dominant antigens (SAG1, GRA1, ROP2, GRA4, and MIC3) was designed, synthesized, and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) strain. The recombinant protein was detected through western blot with pig anti-T. gondii-positive and -negative serum, and then IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) named MAG-ELISA was designed. The MAG-ELISA was evaluated in terms of specificity, sensitivity, and stability. The MAG-ELISA was also compared with a commercial PrioCHECK®Toxoplasma Ab porcine ELISA (PrioCHECK ELISA). Finally, the trend of pig anti-T. gondii IgG levels after artificial infection with RH tachyzoites was evaluated using MAG-ELISA and two other ELISA methods (rMIC3-ELISA and PrioCHECK ELISA).ResultsMAG antigen could be specifically recognized by pig anti-T. gondii-positive but not -negative serum. MAG-ELISA showed high diagnostic performance in terms of specificity (88.6%) and sensitivity (79.1%). MAG-ELISA could be used for detecting anti-T. gondii IgG in the early stage of T. gondii infection in pigs (at least 7 days after artificial infection).ConclusionsOur results suggest that MAG antigen can be applied to specifically recognize anti-T. gondii IgG in pig, and MAG-ELISA has the potential for large-scale screening tests of T. gondii infection in pig farms and intensive industries.Graphical abstract

SEROPREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENTS VERSUS HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS AND ITS POSSIBLE IMPACT ON HUMAN SERUM DOPAMINE LEVEL

Several studies demonstrated a high seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in schizophrenicpatients than healthy individuals. This case control study determined the serprevalence of T.gondii among schizophrenic patients and healthy individuals at Kafrelsheikh UniversityHospitals and to estimate its effect on serum dopamine level. T. gondii IgG was detected in52.2% &23.9% of schizophrenic patients and healthy individuals respectively with significance(P value = 0.005). Serum dopamine level was higher in schizophrenic patients thanhealthy individuals with statistical significance (P = <0.001) and also higher in T. gondii IgGpositive than T. gondii IgG negative patients with statistical significance (P = <0.001).

Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence among tuberculosis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Toxoplasma gondii and Mycobacterium tuberculosis are intracellular pathogens, both infecting a substantial proportion of human population. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the pooled T. gondii seroprevalence in tuberculosis patients. Three international databases were systematically searched for literature on prevalence of T. gondii in tuberculosis patients. A total of 1389 documents were identified, and eight papers were eligible to be included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Geographical data gaps were evident, as no studies were identified from many countries where both infections are important. The pooled seroprevalence of IgG, IgM, and both IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii in tuberculosis patients were estimated to be 35.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 19.3–56.7%), 35.0% (95% CI, 3.0–90.3%), and 13.4% (95% CI, 2.4–49.0%), respectively. In the included case-control studies, the pooled T. gondii seroprevalence (proportion anti- T. gondii IgG antibody positive) was higher in tuberculosis patients than in their controls, with an odds ratio by random effects model of 1.63 (95% CI, 1.28–2.08). The results of our work suggest an association between T. gondii seropositivity and being a tuberculosis patient, which should however be interpreted with caution because the timeline of the infections and the disease process are not accounted for. Our work showed that T. gondii seropositivity, indicating chronic infection with the zoonotic parasite, was relatively common among tuberculosis patients.

Development of Rheumatoid Arthritis by Toxoplasmosis in Iranian Patients

Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an intracellular protozoan parasite capable of infecting approximately one-third of the world human population. In this study, the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) antibodies in Iranian patients with rheumatoid arthritis was investigated, given the lack of information on the magnitude of toxoplasmosis in these patients. Methods: The serum was collected from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n = 93) and a healthy control group (n = 93) from central parts of Iran to investigate the prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies. Results: Anti-T. gondii IgG was detected among 76 of 93 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (81.72%) versus 37 of 93 healthy control group (39.80%), and it was higher among patients with rheumatoid arthritis than controls. The seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM was significantly higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (36 of 93; 38.70%) compared to the healthy control group (2 of 93; 2.1%). Demographic variables (age and sex) did not have significant correlations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were positive for T. gondii infection. Conclusion: The findings of the present study provide efficient evidence that confirm the association between toxoplasmosis and development of rheumatoid arthritis, suggesting that Toxoplasma may contribute to the rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis.

The association between Toxoplasma gondii seropositive status and diabetes mellitus in obese and non-obese subjects in Baghdad

Anti-Toxoplasma gondii seropositive status among obese and diabetic patients has recently attracted substantial attention. The objective of this study was to assess the seropositive rate of T. gondii and its relation to high body mass index (BMI), diabetes, and metabolic syndrome among participants (n=100) who attended Al-Kadhimiya Teaching Hospital, Baghdad-Iraq. An observational analytical study was conducted from October 2019 to March 2020. Participants were divided into three groups based on their BMI; obese (n=38), overweight (n=32) and normal (n=30). In addition, they were divided into diabetic (n=45) and non-diabetic (n=55) based on clinical examination, laboratory examination, and medical interview. Another classification was considered: Obese-diabetic (n=24), obese- non-diabetic (n=14), overweight-diabetic (n=13), overweight non-diabetic (n=19), normal-diabetic (n=8) and normal-nondiabetic (n=28). Finally, participants were divided into metabolic syndrome-positive (n=64) and metabolic syndrome negative (n=36). Serum samples were taken from all participants and examined for the detection of anti-T.gondii IgG and IgM antibodies. The anti T.gondii IgG positive rate was higher in the “overweight” compared to the “obese” and “normal BMI” groups. No significant differences (P=0.22) in seropositive rate were indicated among groups. The results also showed that there was no significant difference (P=0.84) in anti-T. gondii IgG positive rate between diabetic and non-diabetic patients. While the anti T.gondii IgG was significantly (P=0.03) higher in patients with metabolic syndrome as opposed to those with no metabolic syndrome. The results also showed that normal-diabetic and overweigh-diabetic patients had the highest anti-T.gondii IgG positive rate, although no significant differences were noticed among groups. Some other parameters were also examined for the participants, including abdominal obesity, cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), glucose and glycated haemoglobin. Significant differences were noticed only for abdominal obesity and HDL (P˂0.05) between anti T.gondii IgG positive cases and anti T.gondii IgG negative cases. Other factors did not show significant differences between these two groups. Finally, this study showed that T. gondii seropositive status played a significant role in changing only HDL level while other parameters of lipid profile were not influenced by T.gondii seropositivity among obese, diabetic patients and metabolic syndrome patients.

Serological and Molecular Survey of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Hemodialysis Patients with Chronic Renal Disease in Zahedan, Iran

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most prevalent zoonotic opportunistic parasitic infections in the world. The aim of this study was to examine chronic and acute toxoplasmosis molecularly and serologically in Hemodialysis patients. Methods: A total of 238 serum samples of hemodialysis patients with chronic renal disease (119 samples) as case group and healthy individuals (119 samples) as control group were enrolled in Zahedan City, southeastern Iran. The molecular and serological detection of toxoplasmosis were conducted on all samples using nested-PCR and ELISA. Results: The prevalence rates of anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG and T. gondii DNA in the case group were respectively 0%, 44.5% and 29.4% and the corresponding values in the control group were 0.8%,23.5% and 2.52 % respectively (p≥0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, preliminary Toxoplasma gondii infection screening is required using serological techniques, particularly in hemodialysis patients who are frequently exposed to hemodialysis so as to stop infection dissemination.

Increased levels of IL-17A in serum and amniotic fluid of pregnant women with acute toxoplasmosis

This study detected and compared the levels of Il-17A, IFN-gamma and IL-10 in the amniotic fluid (AF) and serum of pregnant women with acute toxoplasmosis in southern Brazil. It also compared the serum levels of these mediators in pregnant women with acute or chronic toxoplasmosis and with uninfected women. The serological investigations of anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG from the 60 pregnant women were determined by chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). Twenty patients were uninfected, twenty were in the chronic phase and twenty were in the acute phase of toxoplasmosis. The 20 pregnant women in acute phase all agreed with amniocentesis. Serum and AF cytokines were evaluated by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The analyzed cytokines showed no significant difference in blood versus amniotic fluid levels of pregnant women in the acute toxoplasmosis. Furthermore, we observed that serum IL-17A was significantly higher in pregnant women in the acute phase of infection compared to pregnant women with chronic toxoplasmosis and seronegative pregnant women. T. gondii DNA was not amplified in any of the samples of amniotic fluid by the nested-PCR reaction. Serum IL-10 levels were also higher in negative pregnant women than in infected pregnant women. Our findings indicate the activation of an inflammatory response to infection by T. gondii and suggest that increased production of IL-17A may be a protective factor against infection of the fetus.

Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Suicidal Behavior in People with Alcohol Consumption.

We determined the association between T. gondii infection and suicidal behavior in people with alcohol consumption. One-thousand four-hundred and twenty-three people with alcohol consumption were screened for suicidal behavior and tested for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 34 of 224 (15.2%) individuals with suicidal ideation and in 118 (9.8%) of 1199 individuals without suicidal ideation (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.08–2.47; p = 0.01). Seropositivity to T. gondii was associated with suicidal ideation in women (OR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.33–3.78; p = 0.001) and in individuals aged ≤30 years (OR: 2.68; 95% CI: 1.22–5.87; p = 0.01) and >50 years (OR: 2.85; 95% CI: 1.19–6.77; p = 0.01). Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 17 of 136 (12.5%) individuals with suicide attempts and in 135 (10.5%) of 1287 individuals without suicide attempts (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 0.71–2.08; p = 0.47). Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was associated with suicide attempts in women (OR: 1.88; 95% CI: 0.99–3.55; p = 0.04). No association between anti-T. gondii IgM and suicidal ideation or suicide attempts was found. Results suggest that T. gondii infection is associated with suicidal behavior in people with alcohol consumption.

Association between ocular toxoplasmosis and APEX1 and MYD88 polymorphism

Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is the most common form of posterior uveitis, and in some countries, it is the most frequent cause of visual impairment. Studies demonstrate that the polymorphism in genes involved with the immune response can be related both to the occurrence and to the recurrence of OT. Thus, the present study aimed to analyze the association between OT and the polymorphism of the APEX1 (rs1130409) and MyD88 (rs7744) genes. The studied sample consisted of 48 volunteers with OT and 96 asymptomatic volunteers, but positive for anti - T. gondii IgG (control group). Blood collection was performed for serological analysis (ELISA) and DNA extraction. Genotyping of the polymorphism was performed using real-time PCR. To analyze the association between gene polymorphism and OT, logistic regression was performed. The results showed no association between the MYD88 gene polymorphism and the development of OT. However, a significant association was found between OT and APEX1 gene polymorphism, indicating that individuals expressing polymorphic (GG) or heterozygous (GT) alleles are more likely to develop the disease (P-value = 0.02 and 0.03 respectively). These results suggest that APEX1 (rs1130409) polymorphism is a risk factor for the occurrence of ocular toxoplasmosis in the studied population.

Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies: Prevalence and Risk Factors among Pregnant Women Accessing Antenatal Care in Some Primary Health Centers in Jos Metropolis, Nigeria

Toxoplasma gondii infection causes high rate of gestational and congenital infection across the globe and is considered a both a public health problem and a neglected disease. The study was carried out to determine the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and the associated risk factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in some Primary Health Centres in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. In this cross-sectional study carried out within 5 months between Jan – May 2019, a total of 182 blood samples were collected from consenting pregnant women. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demography and risk factors. Three millilitres (3 ml) of blood samples were collected from the study participants. Sera were separated from the blood and evaluated for anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies (IgG and IgM) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The data collected from the experiment were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Out of the 182 samples examined, 84 (46.2%) had anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody, 2 (1.1%) had IgM antibody while 98 (53.4%) were neither seropositive for IgG nor IgM. Trimester of pregnancy was significantly associated with prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibody. In conclusion, Toxoplasmosis is prevalent in Jos. Eleven out of every 1000 women (i.e. 1.1%) had recent toxoplasmosis and 53.4% were not protected against primary infection thereby underscoring the need for prevention and control during pregnancy through enlightenment.

Evaluation of soluble CD279 (sCD279) and CD274 (sCD274) in Iraqi patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) with Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasma gondii has been suggested as an important opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised patients. Possible associations of parasite infection with cancer risk have recently attracted much attention. Published studies concerning the association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and leukemia risk have generated inconsistent results. In the present study, we aimed was to investigate the sero- prevalence of the anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies in Iraqi patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) with Toxoplasmosis and to clarify the role of sCD249 and sCD274 in Iraqi AML patients with toxoplasmosis. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to detect anti- T. gondii IgG antibodies in the sera of 120 patients with AML and 50 apparently healthy controls. The results showed that 49(41%) samples of sera patients have been founded AML with toxoplasmosis, 71(59%) samples have AML, 20(40%) cases have control toxoplasmosis (those patients were had toxoplasmosis but showing no symptoms) and 30 (60%) cases samples were considered as a control group without any infections. Sera (sCD279 and sCD274) levels were determined by ELISA using a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. The results showed that levels of sCD279 and sCD274 levels were significantly higher in patients group than healthy subjects (P<0.01).

Association between Toxoplasma gondii Exposure and Suicidal Behavior in Patients Attending Primary Health Care Clinics.

This study aimed to determine the association between suicidal behavior and T. gondii seroreactivity in 2045 patients attending primary care clinics. IgG antibodies against T. gondii were found in 37 (12.1%) out of 306 individuals with a history of suicidal ideation and in 134 (7.7%) of 1739 individuals without this history (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.11–2.42; p = 0.01). Seropositivity to T. gondii was associated with suicidal ideation in women (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.01–2.42; p = 0.03) and individuals aged ≤30 years (OR: 3.25; 95% CI: 1.53–6.88; p = 0.001). No association between the rates of high (>150 IU/mL) levels of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies and suicidal ideation or suicide attempts was found. IgG antibodies against T. gondii were found in 22 of 185 (11.9%) individuals with a history of suicide attempts and in 149 (8.0%) of 1860 individuals without this history (OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 0.96–2.49; p = 0.06). The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was associated with suicide attempts in individuals aged 31–50 years (OR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.09–3.71; p = 0.02), and with more than three suicide attempts (OR: 4.02; 95% CI: 1.34–12.03; p = 0.008). Our results indicate that T. gondii exposure is associated with suicidal behavior among patients attending primary care clinics.

Detection of Anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM Antibodies and Associated Risk Factors during Pregnancy in Southwest Iran.

Background This research was aimed at evaluating the seroprevalence of acute and chronic Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in pregnant women and related risk factors in southwest Iran. Methods In this cross-sectional study, eighty-eight pregnant women were included from October 2019 to December 2019. The presence of anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG antibodies was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, a questionnaire consisting of demographic information was completed for each subject. Results The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was estimated to be 34.09% (30/88). Of these, 1 (1.13%) and 29 (32.95%) samples were found positive for IgM and IgG, respectively. Regarding the risk factors, the consumption of raw/undercooked meat (P value = 0.007) and history of abortion (P value = 0.017) were significantly associated with IgG seroprevalence in pregnant women. Conclusion The results showed that the pregnant women of southwest Iran might be moderately exposed to T. gondii. Since the risk of acute T. gondii infection in this susceptible group is very important, regular screening tests to diagnose the infection are recommended before pregnancy.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Wild Rats (Rattus rattus) in Northern Iran.

Rodents are considered as reservoir hosts for various pathogens (such as Toxoplasma gondii) and have been revealed to play an important role in the spread of several infectious diseases to humans and other animals. The aim of this investigation was to survey the prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies in wild rats in Northern Iran. One hundred rats were caught using rat traps set in different areas in Northern Iran (September 2017). The thoracic cavity of each rat was opened, and then the blood sample was collected from the heart. IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were detected using the modified agglutination test (MAT) with a cutoff value equal to 1 : 40. Overall, 56% of rats were infected by T. gondii. Considering the sex of rats, 45% of male and 55% of female rats were seropositive, but the differences were not statistically significant. There was a significant difference between seropositivity and habitat types and age of rodents. Our findings have public health implications and confirm the high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in northern Iran. The study established that wild rats represent an important and persistent wildlife intermediate host reservoir for T. gondii.

Serological Evaluation of Toxoplasmosis and Related Risk Factors Among HIV+/AIDS Patients in Northern Iran.

Toxoplasma gondii is an important opportunistic intracellular protozoan parasite that can cause severe sequelae and even death in immunodeficient patients. This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis among HIV+/AIDS patients of the study area. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 121 registered HIV+/AIDS patients of behavioral diseases consultation center (BDCC) in Guilan province, north of Iran. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies were measured by ELISA technique in the serum samples. IgG avidity was measured for IgG- plus IgM-positive cases. Also, the relationship between T. gondii infection and related demographic and clinical characteristics were investigated. Anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were detected in 60.3 and 4.9% of patients, respectively. One case of acute toxoplasmosis (0.83%) was detected using an IgG avidity test. A significant correlation was observed between toxoplasmosis with age and marital status in these patients. The mean CD4+count of HIV+/AIDS patients was 549 ± 27cells/µl. Viral load in 69.7% of the HIV patients was less than1000copies/ml. None of the T. gondii IgM-positive HIV patients received anti-Toxoplasma prophylaxis. This finding highlights the importance of T. gondii infection surveillance in HIV patients. Regarding the high prevalence of toxoplasmosis in the study population, educational efforts are recommended to prevent reactivation or acquiring primary infection and developing severe cases of toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised HIV+/AIDS patients.

Serum IgG Titers Against Toxoplasma gondii in Uninfected Infants Exposed In Utero to Toxoplasmosis

To describe the mean time of decrease of T. gondii IgG titers in uninfected infants exposed in utero to toxoplasmosis. A retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2008-2017, among infants under 12 months and exposed in utero to toxoplasmosis. Serial monthly monitoring of serum IgG titers were done till undetectable levels. 240 infants with mean gestational age at diagnosis of 19.2 weeks were included in the study. The mean (range) time for IgG level to become undetectable was 7.9 (0.8-25.0) months. 14 infants became negative between 13-24 months. Majority of asymptomatic infants exposed in utero to T. gondii become seronegative before 12 months of age.

A longitudinal study of Toxoplasma gondii seroconversion on four large Danish sow farms

Serological tests are routinely used to detect Toxoplasma gondii specific IgG antibodies in serum. Serological surveys of T. gondii show a medium to high prevalence in Danish indoor sows at the time of slaughter. However, little is known about when sows acquire T. gondii, and for how long they remain seropositive. Our focus was on quantifying the incidence rates in different age-cohorts and on investigating the T. gondii IgG antibody dynamics in sows. Four large Danish sow farms were longitudinally surveyed for 1 year. A total of 320 animals from 6, 12, 18, and 24-months age-cohorts were sampled at 5-week intervals. In total, 2989 plasma samples were tested using commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The incidence rate in each of the four age-cohorts was calculated, and a time-to-event analysis was applied to the interval censored data to investigate the relationship between age and probability of T. gondii seroconversion. In the initial ELISA testing, eight sows tested positive for T. gondii at first survey, of which seven remained seropositive throughout the follow-up period. Additionally, 16 sows seroconverted, but only five of these remained seropositive. Weekly incidence rates in the 6, 12, 18, and 24-month age-cohorts were 0.0017 (95% CI = 0.0008 – 0.0037), 0.0009 (95% CI = 0.0003 – 0.0027), 0.0003 (95% CI = 0.0000 – 0.0018), and 0.0023 (95% CI = 0.0010 – 0.0051), respectively. Time-to-event analysis suggested that the incidence rate increased with age but could not conclude this definitively. The retesting of a subsample of the sows (n = 200) with the same ELISA and with modified direct agglutination test (MAT), and western blot (WB) assays suggested that 12 out of the 24 initial ELISA seropositive sows may have been false positive. These 12 sows also showed fluctuating antibody dynamics in ELISA. Hence, the unstable antibody dynamics in ELISA may pose a challenge for serological surveys of T. gondii in sows.

The Association of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and Cardiovascular Biomarkers.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a protozoan parasite with high prevalence worldwide. More than 40 million individuals in the United States carry this parasite. T. gondii infection causes toxoplasmosis, which is the leading cause of death associated with foodborne diseases in the United States. T. gondii infects humans through different routes, and it is capable of invading a wide range of tissues in the human body following the infection. Methods: The main objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of T. gondii among adults in the United States and its association with cardiovascular health using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2009–2010). Considering the limitation of studies investigating the relationship between T. gondii and cardiovascular biomarkers, this study was focused on assessing the association of T. gondii to nine cardiovascular biomarkers. First, those biomarkers were investigated individually using several statistical tests and models. Second, we developed an overall cardiovascular biomarker index (OCBI) from eight critical biomarkers to better explain the T. gondii potential cumulative effect on the cardiovascular system. These analyses were adjusted for demographic, behavioral, and anthropometric factors. Results: T. gondii IgG antibody-positive participants had significantly higher systolic blood pressure (p = 0.0022), triglycerides (p = 0.0399), C-reactive protein (p = 0.0422), gamma glutamyl transferase (p = 0.0400), and fasting glucose (p = 0.0213) than the negative participants. In addition, the positive participants had significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.0431) than the negative participants. Adjusting for age, T. gondii positive had a significant negative association with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.0026) and a significant positive association with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.0179), triglycerides (p = 0.0154), and gamma glutamyl transferase (p = 0.0026). With the exception of the low-density lipoprotein, these associations remained statistically significant when adjusting for demographic, behavioral, and anthropometric factors. These results potentially indicate the role of T. gondii in driving cardiovascular-related biomarkers toward dysfunction. The analysis also revealed a significant difference in the OCBI among positive and negative participants (p = 0.0020), with the (cumulative) odds of positive participants having a higher level of OCBI being 0.71 times lower than the odds for negative participants (OR = 0.29). Conclusions: Positive T. gondii IgG antibody was significantly associated with adverse effects on cardiovascular-related biomarkers, including systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and gamma glutamyl transferase. T. gondii-positive individuals were more likely to have a lower cardiovascular biomarkers index than the negative individuals. Finally, the prevalence of toxoplasmosis among U.S. adults was associated with demographic characteristics including age, ethnicity, country of birth, and occupation.

Links Between Toxoplasma gondii IgG Seropositivity and Serointensity and Measures of Geriatric Frailty, Depression and Cognitive Impairment

“Frailty” is characterized by decreased physiological adaptive reserve and increased morbidity and mortality. Immune dysregulation is considered a potential contributor to frailty. Chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii (Tg) is linked with low grade immune activation, cognitive impairment and depression. We thus hypothesized positive associations between frailty, cognitive deficits, and depression with Tg IgG titers and seropositivity in older adults.