IgM anti-T Research Articles

Interleukins IL33/ST2 and IL1-β in Intrauterine Growth Restriction and Seropositivity of Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is the causal agent of toxoplasmosis. It may produce severe damage in immunocompromised individuals, as well as congenital infection and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Previous reports have associated interleukin IL-33 with miscarriage, fetal damage, and premature delivery due to infections with various microorganisms. However, IL-33 has not been associated with congenital toxoplasmosis. The sST2 receptor has been reported in patients who have had recurrent miscarriages. On the other hand, IL-1β was not found in acute Toxoplasma infection. Our aim was to analyze the associations between the serum levels of IL-33 and IL-1β in IUGR and toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. Eighty-four serum samples from pregnant women who had undergone 26 weeks of gestation were grouped as follows: with anti-Toxoplasma antibodies, without anti-Toxoplasma antibodies, IUGR, and the control group. IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies, as well as IL-33, ST2, and IL-1β, were determined using an ELISA assay. Statistical analyses were performed using the Pearson and Chi-square correlation coefficients, as well as the risk factors and Odds Ratios (ORs), with a confidence interval of 95% (CI 95). The results showed that 15/84 (17.8%) of cases were positive for IgG anti-Toxoplasma antibodies and 2/84 (2.38%) of cases were positive for IgM. A statistically significant difference was found between IUGR and IL-33 (p < 0.001), as well as between ST2 and IUGR (p < 0.001). In conclusion, IUGR was significantly associated with IL-33 and ST2 positivity based on the overall IUGR grade. No significant association was found between IUGR and the presence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. There was no association between IL-1β and IUGR. More research is needed to strengthen the utility of IL-33 and ST2 as biomarkers of IUGR.

Comparison of immunological and molecular methods for laboratory diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis in blood, serum and tears in Brazil.

Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is caused by protozoan T. gondii. Ophthalmological examination is considered the gold standard for OT diagnosis, and laboratory tests are used for diagnostic confirmation. However, these tests can present different results, which change depending on their basis, on sample type and on patients' clinical alteration. Thus, the aim of the present study is to assess immunodiagnostic and molecular techniques applied in blood, serum and tear fluid to diagnose T. gondii infection in patients seen at an Ophthalmology Clinic. In total, 160 patients were included in the study, 40 of them had OT with active lesions (G1); 40 had OT with healed lesions (G2), 40 had non-toxoplasmic uveitis (G3) and 40 had no ocular alterations (G4). Serum samples were subjected to Immunoenzymatic Assay (ELISA) and to Indirect Immunofluorescence Reaction (IFAT) to search for anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG. Tear fluid samples were analyzed through ELISA for IgA research. All blood and tear fluid samples were subjected to conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) and in a Nested PCR model for T. gondii DNA amplification with targets B1, GRA7 and REP 529. IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii was detected in serum samples from 106 and 15 patients, respectively, when combining ELISA and IFAT results. Anti-T.gondii IgA antibodies were detected in 9.2% of the tear material. Nested PCR with GRA7 target showed higher positivity in blood samples (24.4%); Nested PCR with B1 target showed a higher frequency of positivity in tears (15%). Biological samples of patients with active lesions showed the highest positivity frequencies in all immunodiagnostic assays, as well as in most PCR models. The present results highlighted the need of associating techniques with different fundamentals to confirm OT diagnosis. Furthermore, further tear fluid analyses should be performed to validate this biological material as lesser invasive alternative for the more accurate OT diagnosis.

One Health Approach in Serosurvey of Toxoplasma gondii in Former Black Slave (Quilombola) Communities in Southern Brazil and Among Their Dogs.

Brazilian quilombos are rural semi-isolated remnant communities of former black slaves and their descendants who traditionally maintained themselves through archaic subsistence livestock and agriculture practices and historically lacked specific public health policies. Although such individuals and their dogs may be exposed to zoonotic pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii, no study to date has assessed these human-animal populations together. Populations in four different Brazilian quilombos in southern Brazil were evaluated. Overall, 93/208 people (44.7%) and 63/100 dogs (63.0%) were seropositive for IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT), 4/208 (1.9%) human samples seropositive for IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies, with a human-dog seropositivity ratio for IgG of 0.71. Quilombola individuals ingesting game meat were 2.43-fold more likely (95% CI: 1.05-5.9) to be seropositive. No risk factors were associated with seropositivity among dogs, thus suggesting that their exposure to T. gondii was random. Surprisingly, our research group had previously found an inverted human-dog ratio for T. gondii seropositivity of 2.54 in the urban area of a nearby major city. Because consumption of raw/undercooked game meat by quilombola individuals may have contributed to higher exposure, higher overall seroprevalence among dogs may have also indicated interaction with wildlife. Although these dogs may hunt wildlife without their owners' awareness, the higher dog seropositivity may also be related to feeding from discarded food in the community or backyard livestock animals and drinking surface water contaminated with oocysts. Thus, wildlife cannot be singled out as the reason, and future studies should consider sampling water, soil, wildlife, and livestock tissues, to fully establish the source of infection in dogs herein.

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection among slaughterhouse workers in Yangon Region, Myanmar: A cross-sectional study.

Toxoplasmosis, having the significant consequences affecting mortality and quality of life, is still prevalent in various places throughout the world. The major gap in surveillance for Toxoplasma gondii infection among high-risk population, slaughterhouse workers, is an obstacle for the effective policies formulation to reduce the burden of toxoplasmosis in Myanmar. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis and associated factors of seropositivity among slaughterhouse workers in Yangon Region, Myanmar. A cross-sectional study that was conducted from June to November 2020 included 139 slaughterhouse workers involving at five main slaughterhouses under Yangon City Development Committee, Myanmar. The presence of IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies in serum was detected using the OnSite Toxo IgG/IgM Combo Rapid Test. A face-to-face interview was also performed using pretested structured questionnaires to obtain the detail histories: sociodemographic characteristics, level of knowledge, occupational factors, and environmental factors related to T. gondii infection. Bivariate logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with T. gondii infection. Of all participants, the overall seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii was 43.9% (95% CI: 35.5-52.5%), of whom 98.4% (95% CI: 91.2-100.0%) were reactive only for IgG antibody and 1.6% (95% CI: 0.0-8.8%) were reactive for IgG and IgM antibodies. The significant factors associated with the seropositivity of T. gondii antibodies were blood transfusion history (OR: 5.74, 95% CI: 1.17-28.09), low level of knowledge (OR: 2.91, 95% CI: 1.46-5.83), contact with animal organs, muscles or blood (OR: 14.29, 95% CI: 1.83-111.51), and animals most frequently slaughtered (cattle) (OR: 3.22, 95% CI: 1.16-8.93). A high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was detected among slaughterhouse workers in Yangon Region and it raises a significant public health concern. Therefore, providing health education regarding toxoplasmosis, enforcement of personal hygiene practices in workplaces, the establishment of training for occupational hygiene, and commencement of the risk assessment and serological screening for toxoplasmosis are crucial to curtail the prevalence of T. gondii infection among slaughterhouse workers.

Outbreak of Chagas disease in Brazil: Validation of a molecular diagnostic method

Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), affects millions of people worldwide. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) have been used as tools to monitor parasitic levels in the bloodstream of individuals exposed to infection, thus enabling the monitoring of relapses and the effectiveness of therapy, for example. The aim of this study was to evaluate the TcSAT-IAM system, developed by our research group, on samples from patients with suspected Chagas disease infection. Initially, primer systems were developed for the detection of the nuclear DNA (SAT-DNA) from T. cruzi (TcSAT-IAM). The Cruzi system, predicted in the literature, and TcSAT-IAM were then evaluated in relation to their analytical sensitivity, specificity and efficiency. Afterwards, the applicability of the qPCR technique using both systems (separately) for the diagnosis of acute CD was evaluated in samples from 77 individuals exposed to the outbreak that occurred in Pernambuco-Brazil, relating the results obtained to those of the classical diagnostic methods recommended for this stage of the infection. TcSAT-IAM and Cruzi had a detection limit of 1 fg of target DNA (0,003 parasites). Thirty-eight cases were recorded, 28 by laboratory criteria and 10 by clinical and epidemiological criteria. Blood samples from 77 subjects were submitted to qPCR by both systems, reaching an agreement of 89.61% between them. After analyzes between systems and diagnostic criteria, the TcSAT-IAM showed sensitivity and specificity of 52.36% (CI 37.26–67.52) and 92.31% (CI 79.68–97.35), respectively, accuracy of 72.73% and moderate agreement. The TcSAT-IAM showed an accuracy of 72.58% and 75% in relation to parasitological and serological tests (IgM anti-T. cruzi), respectively. Therefore, quantitative PCR should be incorporated into the diagnosis of suspected acute cases of Chagas disease.

Seroprevalencia y factores de riesgo de la infección por Toxoplasma gondii en mujeres embarazadas

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which currently affects almost a third of the world population, with the most pregnant being the most affected. As an objective, it was proposed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women. The study was quantitative, descriptive, experimental, cross-sectional. The sample consisted of 372 pregnant women between the ages of 14 and 40, who attended a gynecological consultation at a public hospital in the El Oro Province, Ecuador. As a data collection instrument, once the informed consent was signed, a sociodemographic questionnaire was applied and a venous blood sample was collected without anticoagulant for the serological determination of IgM and IgG anti-T. gondii through capture immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA) (IgM) and indirect immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA) (IgG) Vircell Microbiologists®. Data were stored in Microsoft Excel and processed with the SPSS statistical package to find seroprevalence values, 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) and Chi-square with p: &lt;0.005. As a result, a seroprevalence of 20.16% (75/372) was found, where the most affected age group was 24 to 28 years (25.23%), 92% (69/72) presented IgG antibodies and 8% (6/72) IgM, a significant statistical association was found between marital status and the presence of antibodies against T. gondii (p: 0.0156), 20.51% had cats inside the house and 22.75% handled feces of the cats It is necessary to implement educational actions and strategies in the fight against toxoplasmosis in Ecuador.

High occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among blood donors in Ardabil Province as main focus of zoonotic visceral leishmaniosis, northwestern Iran.

Toxoplasmosis, as cosmopolitan parasitic disease, is considered as one of the transfusion-transmitted parasites. The true burden of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) amongst blood donors remains undisclosed around the world. Since there was no evidence on the prevalence of T. gondii in blood donors in Ardabil Province, as main focus of zoonotic visceral leishmaniosis (ZVL), northwestern Iran, current research was therefore conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii and PCR assay among them for the first time. In the present study, 462 plasma samples from asymptomatic blood donors of Ardabil Province, northwestern Iran, were tested for IgM and IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies levels using ELISA test. Moreover, the buffy coat of all seropositive subjects was screened for T. gondii DNA by conventional PCR. Also, the data sheet consisting of characteristic information was registered for all the applicants. Overall, anti-T. gondii antibodies were found in 36% (166/462) of asymptomatic blood donors. Anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG seroprevalence was 1.5% and 32.5%, respectively. Only nine subjects (2%) were found to be positive for both IgM and IgG. Moreover, T. gondii DNA was identified in 18% (30/166) of seropositive donors. The logistic regression analysis showed a significant correlation between T. gondii seropositivity and contact with cats, agricultural activities, history of consumption of undercooked meat and being non-educated (P=0.001). The high prevalence (about one-third) of anti-T. gondii antibodies and possibly active infection using conventional PCR test represents that asymptomatic carriers of T. gondii are quite common in the study areas and pose a potential threat to the blood safety and hemovigilance program.

Prevalência de anticorpos IgM e IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii em universitários do Curso de Ciências Biológicas, Pontal do Triângulo Mineiro

Objetivo: Investigar a presença de IgG e IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii no soro de estudantes de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, campus do Pontal. Métodos: Estudo transversal de prevalência, com coleta de dados realizada entre junho de 2017 e fevereiro de 2018. Foram utilizadas as técnicas de Imunofluorescência Indireta e Ensaio Imunoenzimático (ELISA) e aplicados questionário semiestruturado para avaliação dos conhecimentos prévios sobre a toxoplasmose. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 128 alunos com faixa etária de 18 a 41 anos, sendo 83 (64,4%) do sexo feminino e 45 (35,6%) do sexo masculino. Foram colhidas amostras de sangue de 106 participantes e 13 (12,3%) apresentaram anticorpos anti-T. gondii. Destes, 3 (2,8%) afirmaram consumir leite bovino não pasteurizado, 3 (2,8%) carne crua ou mal passada e 1 (0,94%) vegetais crus ou não higienizados. Não foi observada associação estatisticamente significativa entre positividade (IgM anti-T. gondii e/ou IgG anti-T. gondii) e as variáveis analisadas no questionário.Conclusão: Neste trabalho foi possível verificar a presença de anticorpos IgM e IgG anti-T. gondii em universitários. Não se observou uma associação entre soropositividade e o hábito alimentar. Entretanto, a análise das respostas obtidas no questionário mostrou comportamento de risco por parte destes indivíduos, principalmente ao que se refere ao contato frequente com cães e gatos, muitas vezes recolhidos na rua.

Serosurvey of Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Homeless Persons of São Paulo City, Southeastern Brazil.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii has been extensively studied in a variety of different human populations. However, no study has focused on homeless populations. Accordingly, the present study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies and the risk factors associated in homeless persons from homeless shelter of São Paulo city, southeastern Brazil. In addition, anti-HIV antibodies and associated risk of T. gondii and HIV coinfection have been evaluated. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected by indirect fluorescent antibody test. In addition, anti-HIV levels were tested by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay, with positive samples confirmed by rapid immunoblot assay. Overall, IgG anti-T. gondii seropositivity was found in 43/120 (35.8%) homeless persons, with endpoint titers varying from 16 to 1,024. The only two pregnant women tested were negative for IgM by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay, with normal parturition and clinically healthy newborns in both cases. There were no statistical differences in the risk factors for anti-T. gondii serology (p > 0.05). Anti-HIV seropositivity was found in 2/120 (1.7%) homeless persons, confirmed as HIV-1. One HIV seropositive individual was also sero-reactive to IgG anti-T. gondii, and both were negative to IgM anti-T. gondii. This is the first study that reports the serosurvey of T. gondii in homeless persons worldwide. Despite the limited sample size available in the present study, our findings have shown that the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in homeless persons herein was lower than the general population, probably due to homeless diet habit of eating mainly processed food intake. No statistical differences were found regarding risk factors for anti-T. gondii exposure in homeless persons. Future studies should be conducted to fully establish risk factors for anti-T. gondii exposure in homeless persons.

Seroprevalence of anti-TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI and anti-TOXOPLASMA GONDII antibodies in possible and potential organ donors in the south of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil

Serological profiles are important in cases of solid organ donation where serological findings, such as antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi and toxoplasmosis, may interfere in organ donation by increasing morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to outline seroprevalence of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi and anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in possible and potential organ donors in the south of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State, Brazil. A cross-sectional quantitative and retrospective epidemiological study was carried out, based on secondary data. Data on serology were extracted from medical records found in the Sistema de Gestão Hospitalar (SIGH), a hospital management system used by a university hospital in the south of RS, Brazil.Sociodemographic variables, such as age, sex and race, as well as clinical variables, such as titration of IgM and IgG anti-T. cruzi and anti–T. gondii antibodies, were analyzed. Medical records were found to be poorly filled in, since 67.6% (506 records) could not be used due to lack of information. Seroprevalence of T. cruzi was 6.8% (5 cases), mostly in white males. Regarding seroprevalence of T. gondii, 76.2% (64 donors) were serologicaly positive, 10.9% of which were IgM positive. This is the first study on anti-T. cruzi and anti-T. gondii antibodies inorgan donors in RS, Brazil and should be furthered since there may be consequences regarding organ uptake and donation.KEY WORDS: Epidemiological studies; Trypanosoma cruzi; Toxoplasma gondii; organ donation

Toxoplasmosis in Schizophrenic Patients: Immune-diagnosis and Serum Dopamine Level.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite widely distributed all over the world. It has been associated with various psychiatric conditions as schizophrenia. This study aiming to evaluate the association between T. gondii infection and schizophrenia and to estimate the effect of T. gondii infection on the serum dopamine level among schizophrenic patients. A case-control study was conducted over 45 schizophrenic patients and 44 normal controls. Serum IgM and IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected by a commercial ELISA Kit. The immunoblotting method was performed for the detection of IgG anti-Toxoplasma dopamine was detected by the human dopamine ELISA kit. Anti-T. gondii IgM was negative in all the 90 studied individuals. However, anti-T. gondii IgG was positive in 25 schizophrenic patients (55.6%) and 13 normal healthy controls (28.9%). Immunoblotting showed stronger specific reaction to proteins with molecular weights 50 and 60 kDa by +ve IgG schizophrenic patients. The serum dopamine level among schizophrenic patients was increased as compared to healthy controls (47.22 and 25.79%, respectively; p <0.001). In addition, the dopamine levels in +ve IgG were higher than those of -ve IgG schizophrenic patients. These results suggest that chronic T. gondii infection causes high dopamine levels that may lead to schizophrenia. About 55% of schizophrenic patients showed positive IgG reactions to Toxoplasma within this population, the dopamine levels were higher than seronegative population and revealed both 50 and 60 kDa proteins band specific to Toxoplasma.

Serum IgG Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibody Concentrations Do Not Correlate Nested PCR Results in Blood Donors.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii infects millions of individuals worldwide. This protozoan is food and water-borne transmitted but blood transfusion and organ transplantation constitute alternative forms for transmission. However, the influence of IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies in molecular analysis carried out in peripheral blood still remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the serum IgG anti-T. gondii antibody concentrations correlate Nested PCR results in blood donors.Methods: 750 blood donors were enrolled. IgM and IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies were assessed by ELISA (DiaSorin, Italy). Nested PCR was performed with primers JW62/JW63 (288 bp) and B22/B23 (115 bp) of the T. gondii B1 gene. The mean values of IgG concentration were compared for PCR positive and PCR Negative blood donors using the t-test or Mann-Whitney according to the normal distribution (p-value ≤ 0.05).Results: 361 (48.1%) blood donors presented positive serology as follow: IgM+/IgG−: 5 (0.6%); IgM+/IgG+: 21 (2.8%); IgM−/IgG+: 335 (44.7%) and 389 (51.9%), negative serology. From 353 blood donors with positive serology tested, the Nested PCR was positive in 38 (10.8%) and negative in 315 (89.2%). There were no differences statistically significant between the mean values of serum IgG anti-T. gondii antibody concentrations and the Nested PCR results.Conclusions: In conclusion, our data show that variations in the serum IgG anti-T. gondii antibody concentrations do not correlate T. gondii parasitemia detected by Nested PCR in chronically infected healthy blood donors.

Toxoplasma gondii Recombinant antigen AMA1: Diagnostic Utility of Protein Fragments for the Detection of IgG and IgM Antibodies.

Toxoplasma gondii is an important zoonotic protozoan that infects a wide variety of vertebrates as intermediate hosts. For this reason, the diagnosis of this disease is very important and requires continuous improvement. One possibility is to use recombinant antigens in serological tests. Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1), a protein located in specific secretory organelles (micronemes) of T. gondii, is very interesting in regard to its potential diagnostic utility. In the present study, we attempted to identify a fragment of the AMA1 protein with a high sensitivity and specificity for the serological diagnosis of human toxoplasmosis. The full-length AMA1 and two different fragments (AMA1N and AMA1C) were produced using an Escherichia coli expression system. After purification by metal affinity chromatography, recombinant proteins were tested for their utility as antigens in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for the detection of IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies in human and mouse immune sera. Our data demonstrate that the full-length AMA1 recombinant antigen (corresponding to amino acid residues 67–569 of the native protein) has a better diagnostic potential than its N- or C-terminal fragments. This recombinant protein strongly interacts with specific anti-T. gondii IgG (99.4%) and IgM (80.0%) antibodies, and may be used for developing new tools for diagnostics of toxoplasmosis.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among healthy blood donors in two locations in Tunisia and associated risk factors.

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that can be transmitted to humans through a variety of routes including blood transfusion. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and associated risk factors in healthy blood donors in Tunisia. A total of 800 healthy blood donors from two blood centers in south and coastal Tunisia were analyzed for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA), respectively. Structured questionnaires were used to gather information on risk factors for T. gondii infection during collection. The overall seroprevalence was 44.4% of which 352 (44%) and 3 (0.4%) were positive for IgG and both IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that T. gondii seropositivity was significantly associated with the birth place (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.72; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49–4.94) and the age of the donors (adjusted OR = 4.98; 95% CI: 1.50–16.58) which are independent risk factors. In addition, the variables of hand washing before eating (adjusted OR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.37–0.74) and living in an urban environment (adjusted OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.13–0.71) are two protective factors. This study provided the first data on the seroprevalence and epidemiology of T. gondii infection in healthy blood donors in Tunisia.

Food safety assessment and risk for toxoplasmosis in school restaurants in Armenia, Colombia.

We assessed the risk for toxoplasmosis in 10 school restaurants in Armenia (Quindio, Colombia). We analyzed the presence of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in the food, water, and living and inert surfaces of school restaurants, and we correlated these findings with the results of food safety inspection scores and with the prevalence of specific anti-T. gondii antibodies in children who ate at these restaurants. Of the 213 samples, 6.1% were positive using PCR to test for T. gondii DNA. Positive samples were found in meat, water, cucumber, guava juice, inert surfaces, and living surfaces. In 60% (6/10) of the public school restaurants, there was at least one PCR T. gondii-positive sample. In 311 serum samples from children who attended the restaurants, 101 (33%) were positive for IgG and 12 (3.9%) for IgM anti-T. gondii. The median of the compound score for the fulfillment of inspection for food safety conditions was of 60.7% (range 50-72). Higher T. gondii PCR positivity in surfaces, food, or water at each restaurant was correlated with lower inspection scores for water supply and water storage conditions. Lower scores in physical infrastructure and disinfection procedures and higher scores in furniture were correlated with a higher prevalence of IgG anti-T. gondii in children who ate at those restaurants. Inspection scores can identify restaurants with a higher risk for the presence of T. gondii.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Healthy Volunteer Blood Donors Using Serological and Molecular Methods from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Southwest Iran

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a ubiquitous zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii. Blood and blood products can be a probable route of T. gondii transmission, especially in patients undergoing multiple transfusions. Objectives: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection among healthy blood donors in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Methods: We collected 385 blood samples from blood donors referring to the three biggest Blood Transfusion Organization Centers in the province during the period from January to June 2017. IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Moreover, all samples were tested by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for the detection of DNA of T. gondii. Results: The seroprevalence rates of IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies were 37.9% and 1.56%, respectively. With the LAMP method, 1.56% of the samples were positive for the DNA of T. gondii. Of these, four (1.04%) were seropositive for both IgG and IgM and two (0.52%) were positive only for IgG. Moreover, statistical analyses indicated that several risk factors including gender, age, contact with cats, and consumption of undercooked meat were significantly related to T. gondii seropositivity in blood donors. Conclusions: This study indicated that anti-T. gondii antibodies were highly prevalent among apparently healthy blood donors in Southwest Iran. There was a possibility of infection transmission by blood transfusion while there is a lack of screening tests for Toxoplasma infection in the Blood Transfusion Organizations. It is strongly suggested that appropriate and sensitive screening programs be designed by the LAMP method for the detection of T. gondii in blood donors

Toxoplasmosis seroepidemiology in pregnant women in a city in the Northwest region of the Paraná State, Brazil

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by the Toxoplasma gondii protozoa. The congenital form happens when the parasite reaches the fetus through the placenta and causes damages of different intensities, which can be consequence of the strain virulence, of the immune response capability of the pregnant woman or even of the pregnancy stage, and can result in fetal death or severe clinical symptomatology. The aim of this paper was to determine the prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in pregnant woman seen at the Basic Health Units (BHU) in the city of Umuarama (PR) and check for possible toxoplasmosis associations with social-demographic characteristics, behavior and environmental variables. In this study, a total of 813 pregnant women who had their prenatal exams at the BHU in the city of Umuarama (PR) were included. Blood samples collected from these subjects were submitted to IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibody survey. Each pregnant woman answered an epidemiological questionnaire for the detection of variables, which were later analyzed by the EpiInfo program. The prevalence detected for IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies were 56.8% and 1.0%, respectively. The variables age group, education level, per capita income, number of pregnancies, ingestion of fresh sausage, presence of peridomiciliary cats in the backyard and the habit of ingesting farm milk showed association to the infection by T. gondii.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women from Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

BackgroundToxoplasmosis is one of the common worldwide parasitic zoonosis due to Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy can result in fetal and neonatal death or various congenital defects. The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence and risk factors of T. gondii infection in pregnant women following antenatal care (ANC) services at Bobo Dioulasso.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted enrolling a sample of 316 pregnant women attending ANC at centers for maternal and child health of Bobo-Dioulasso town from March 2013 to February 2014. Data on socio-demographic and potential risk factors were collected from each study participant using structured questionnaire through face-to-face interview. Moreover, venous blood specimens were collected and tested for IgM and IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and enzyme linked fluorescent assay, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to identify the potential predictor variables for T. gondii infection.ResultsThe overall seroprevalence for T. gondii infection was 31.1% (98/316). All the pregnant women were positive for IgG anti-bodies exclusively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that having at least a secondary education level (AOR = 2.23; 95% CI: [1.04–4.63]); being urban resident (AOR = 2.81; 95% CI: [1.24–6.86]) and the consumption of meat combination (pork + beef + mutton + wild meat + poultry) (AOR = 4.00; 95% CI: [1.06–15.24]) were potential risk factors of T. gondii infection.ConclusionToxoplasmosis is frequent in pregnant women and studies that show incidence of T. gondii among the neonates have to be done to introduce routine antenatal screening program to control congenital toxoplasmosis. There is the need for preventive measures such as education of pregnant women about the transmission routes and prevention methods of toxoplasmosis at ANC clinics.

SEROPREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMOSIS IN PREGNANT WOMEN IN A CITY IN RIO GRANDE DO NORTE STATE, BRAZIL

Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which is particularly relevant in pregnant women, due to the risk of congenital infection. The aim of this study was to study the serological pro?leofpregnantwomenandanalyzesomefactorsrelatedtoinfectioninthisgroup.A descriptive and retrospective study was performed analyzing the results of 356 pregnant women in the Mixed Health Unit of Jaçanã-RN from 2009 to 2014. Results of serological tests for IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies were provided by LACEN-RN. The chi-square test (?2)wascalculatedbeingconsideredstatistically signi?cantforp&lt;0.05.Theresultsshowed that: 59% of the pregnant women tested presented serology IgG anti-T. gondii reagent (IgG+) and IgM anti-T. gondii non-reactive (IgM-), 0.6% reagent for both (IgG+ and IgM+) and 40.4% susceptible to infection(IgG- and IgM-).71.3% of thewomen were testedin the ?rsttrimester of pregnancy; the 20-29 years of age range was the most prevalent (62.5%) and the 11-19 years of age range was the most susceptible (47%). The rural women had the highest incidence of positive serology (60.2%) and those from the urban area were the most susceptible (40.7%).There was no statistical association between serology and the age group (p=0.282) and origin (p=0.881) variables. There is need for investment in prenatal care and health education for the population about toxoplasmosis.

Impact of alternative treatment approach for cerebral toxoplasmosis among HIV/AIDS patients from a resource-poor setting in Burkina Faso

Cerebral toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii because of reactivation of latent tissue cysts in the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients with severe immunosuppression. The objective of this study was to evaluate the benefit of co-trimoxazole in presumptive and prevention of cerebral toxoplasmosis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/AIDS patients at Bobo-Dioulasso Hospital in Burkina Faso from June 2012 to October 2014. ELISA and ELFA were performed on serum for the quantitative determination of IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii, respectively. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 29.3%. No IgM antibodies for T. gondii were found. Six patients with Toxoplasma-specific antibodies presented cerebral toxoplasmosis. All patients were infected by HIV-1 with the median of CD4+ T lymphocytes at 141 cells/μl. No patient was under antiretroviral therapy. No case of cerebral toxoplasmosis was noted in patients receiving co-trimoxazole in prevention. Presumptive treatment of cerebral toxoplasmosis with co-trimoxazole was effective in all patients with a significant clinical improvement in 83.3%. These results attest the benefit of cotrimoxazole in cerebral toxoplasmosis treatment in countries where drug resources are limited when sulfadiazine is not available. Ours finding highlight the importance of establishing toxoplasmosis chemoprophylaxis to HIV with severe immunosuppression patients and positive Toxoplasma serology.