Risk Factors For Toxoplasmosis Research Articles

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in captive giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).

Toxoplasma gondii, a globally zoonotic protozoan parasite, infects most warm-blooded animals including the giant panda, and poses a serious threat to the giant panda conservation. However, the seroprevalence and the risk factors for toxoplasmosis in giant pandas are unknown. Here we aimed to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii in the captive population of giant pandas and analyze the factors associated with the increased risk of infection. A total of 203 serum samples were collected from 157 (95 females and 62 males) captive giant pandas from 2007 to 2022, antibodies against T. gondii were screened using commercial ELISA and MAT kits. The results showed 56 (35.67%) giant pandas were seropositive, age and transfer history between institutions were identifified as risk factors for T. gondii infection. It is suggested that age-related seroprevalence was the main factor, and housing multiple species in the same environment may increase the chance of cross-infection of T. gondii. This study can provide research data for developing policies for the prevention and control of T. gondii and protecting the health of captive giant pandas and other wildlife.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Occurrence of Toxoplasmosis in Animals Slaughtered in Brazilian Abattoirs.

Toxoplasmosis is mainly transmitted to human beings through the consumption of contaminated food, and several outbreaks caused by infected meat consumption have been reported in Brazil. We performed a systematic literature review on the prevalence and risk factors for toxoplasmosis in slaughtered animals and performed a meta-analysis of its prevalence for different species and regions. Furthermore, we also discussed the infectivity of seropositive animals, risk factors, and preventive strategies. In the meta-analysis, the overall prevalence estimates for poultry, ostrich, goats, swine, equids, sheep, and bovines were 42.4, 40.4, 23.0, 19.9, 19.1, 17.3, and 16.2%, respectively. Regarding the Brazilian regions, the highest prevalence values were detected for bovines and equids in the South (32.3 and 34.4%, respectively) and swine, goats, sheep, and poultry in the Northeast (29.3, 23.0, 22.9, and 69.8%%, respectively). High proportions of Toxoplasma gondii viability in bioassay conducted on seropositive animals were seen for sheep (34/40 = 85%) and swine (12/15 = 80%). Toxoplasma gondii infections are widespread on Brazilian farms, and the summarized data allow the establishment of high-priority areas and/or species for the adoption of preventive strategies to control this parasite at different levels of the food chain.

Assessment of the clinical benefits of prenatal screening for toxoplasmosis in southern Taiwan

ObjectiveThe present study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in southern Taiwan and to determine the clinical benefits of screening for the same. Materials and methodsThe current study included 458 pregnant women who received prenatal care from the first trimester at the Kaohsiung and Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospitals during the time period from 2014 to 2015. Serological tests performed to detect the presence of Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. Amniocentesis was scheduled and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to detect Toxoplasma DNA. Moreover, the maternal characteristics and risk factors, perinatal outcomes related to the seropositivity for Toxoplasma infection were analyzed. ResultsAmong the pregnant patients included in the current study, 39/458 (8.5%) were IgG+ and 2/458 (0.6%) were IgM+. The present study analyzed the maternal characteristics and risk factors, perinatal outcome pertaining to the IgG seropositive group by means of the multiple logistic regression analysis revealed a female predominance (10.8%), compared to the males (6.4%), (adjusted OR = 0.48 (95%, 0.24–0.98), P = 0.043∗). The number cases with gestational age above 37 weeks at the time of delivery was significantly lower, compared to the cases below 37 weeks (adjusted OR = 0.32 (0.12–0.94), P = 0.038∗). Among one case with low avidity cannot exclude recent infection, the amniocentesis did not show any evidence of vertical transmission. ConclusionThe scenario may not warrant general screening and the results will not influence the clinical decisions. Although the present study failed to identify the maternal risk factors related to Toxoplasma infection, the results imply that health education is essential, owing to the slightly higher rate of preterm delivery in the IgG seropositive group.

A Cross-Sectional Study on the Association Between Risk Factors of Toxoplasmosis and One Health Knowledge in Pakistan.

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan that infects warm-blooded animals and humans. Approximately one third of the global population is infected by T. gondii. We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the risk factors and One Health knowledge of toxoplasmosis in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. From July through December 2020, we collected data using questionnaires. The results showed that 60% of participants had heard or read about the disease, 23.3% of participants had no knowledge about the disease, and 16.8% participants were not sure about the disease. More than half of the participants (53.3%) reported that toxoplasmosis was caused by toxins, 5.3% reported that toxoplasmosis was an animal disease, 13.8% reported that toxoplasmosis was a human disease, 65.8% reported that it was both an animal and human disease, and 15.3% reported that it was neither an animal nor a human disease. Approximately 80.5% of participants reported that individuals acquired toxoplasmosis by changing cat litter. Our study findings revealed a low level of knowledge and awareness about toxoplasmosis among males. Therefore, there should be awareness programs to educate individuals about the risks of this deadly disease and to provide information on the major routes of transmission.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Toxoplasma gondii Infection Among High-Risk Populations in Jiangsu Province, Eastern China.

Toxoplasma gondii, an opportunistic protozoan, infects one-third of people worldwide and could lead to serious outcomes in immunodeficient or immunocompromised populations. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for T. gondii infection among high-risk populations in Jiangsu Province, eastern China. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 4 categories of populations in 13 prefectures including HIV/AIDS patients, livestock breeding/processing (B/P) staff, pregnant women, and cancer patients. We detected specific immunoglobulin G and M (IgG and IgM) levels for each participant using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and asked to complete a questionnaire for each participant that covered sociodemographic information as well as the basic knowledge of attitudes toward and the practices for the prevention of toxoplasmosis. A total of 5231 participants distributed across 13 prefecture-level cities was surveyed, including 2455 males and 2776 females. Total seropositivity rate in each population category was as follows: 9.08% (HIV/AIDS patients), 11.65% (livestock B/P staff), 5.50% (pregnant women), and 12.89% (cancer patients). We detected IgM positivity in HIV/AIDS patients (0.47%, 6/1289), livestock B/P staff (0.08%, 1/1330), and cancer patients (0.46%, 6/1303) but not in pregnant women. Further, we detected IgM+IgG positivity only in cancer patients (0.31%, 4/1303). The seropositivity rate for pregnant women was significantly lower, while cancer patients were significantly higher. Higher educational levels were associated with lower seropositivity rates for T. gondii infection. High seropositivity rates were associated with long period of HIV infection among HIV/AIDS patients, frequent contact with livestock among livestock breeding/processing staff and male older patients among cancer patients, respectively. Analysis of practices across all participants showed that frequent contact with pets in everyday life or using the same cutting board for both raw and cooked foods leads to higher seropositivity rates. Therefore, we obtained the seroprevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis among high-risk populations in Jiangsu Province which could provide evidence for the implementation of control measures in the near future.

Seroprevalence and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii infecting ruminants in the North-West of Egypt

Toxoplasma gondii is a coccidian parasite known for its heavy toll on people and livestock. It can cause abortion and a variety of congenital diseases. The current study aimed to examine some seroprevalence and molecular attributes of T. gondii obtained from ruminants in the North-West of Egypt. Specimens were random selected from five different locations in Alexandria and Matrouh governorates. A total of 483 blood samples, collected from 96 mixed flocks, were screened for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The seropositive results were then confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers for the B1 and P30 genes. Specific PCR products were selected for sequencing and alignment against the GenBank, where phylogeny has been examined using the maximum likelihood, neighbor-joining, and maximum parsimony in MEGA6. ELISA confirmed the presence of T. gondii in 188 of the investigated samples (38.92%), indicating a higher prevalence in camels (64.51%) and sheep (43.75%) as compared to goats (27.93 %) and cattle (13.46%). PCR confirmed the presence of T. gondii-specific sequences in 159 seropositive specimens, with homology between 98.3 and 100%. The genetic distances between the investigated variants ranged from 0.1 to 0.9, and 7 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), were identified in the examined T. gondii specimens. The camel T. gondii parasite, isolated from Matrouh, showed a 100% homology with the most dangerous reference strains of T. gondii-RH in the GenBank. Our results showed that B1 and P30-specific PCR could detect T. gondii in blood samples more accurately than ELISA. In addition, the statistical analysis of our data indicated that species, age, sex, and animal location were all risk factors for toxoplasmosis. These findings are likely to boost disease control and help contain the spread of T. gondii infections.

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.

Risk factors of toxoplasmosis in goat and sheep that influence in human infection

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis that is transmitted from animals to humans. The definitive landlady of toxoplasmosis is a cat. However, goats can be infected by this disease. One third of the world's humans are estimated to be infected with toxoplasmosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence the incidence of toxoplasmosis in humans and animals. The research method is by serological testing of toxoplasmosis in humans using ELISA and serological testing of toxoplasmosis in goats and sheep using ToMAT. The results showed that the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in humans was 15.1% while in goats it was 61.1% and in sheep it was 58.9%. Risk factors that influence the incidence of toxoplasmosis are maintenance management factors such as feeding from grass that take it from fields, provision of drinking water collected, procedures for providing cages, and also cat litter available. While health management factors that become risk factors are separated of sick animals. Potential human transmission through knowledge, attitudes and practices of farmers related to the control of toxoplasmosis. The conclusion of this study is the need for socialization to farmers to improve knowledge, attitudes and practices of farmers related to maintenance management and health enforcement factors that are a risk of transmitting toxoplasmosis, enclosure sanitation and maintenance management.

A contemporary insight into the sero-epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in the foot-hills of Himalayas: A cross-sectional study from a tertiary care center in Northern India.

BackgroundToxoplasma gondii infects 30-50% of the world’s population with high diversity in the geo-epidemiology and seroprevalence. The burden of toxoplasmosis and its determinants from remote and vulnerable regions of India is unknown. Therefore, this study aim to evaluate the prevalence of toxoplasma antibodies and factors associated with seropositivity among individuals from Uttarakhand and adjoining areas.MethodsSerum samples from 442 cases were tested for anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay. Association of seropositivity of toxoplasmosis with age, gender, place of residence, dietary habits, and comorbidities were analyzed using binary logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe overall Toxoplasma seropositivity was found to be 36.88% [95% Confidence Interval (CI)=30.40–39.28]. While anti-T. gondii IgG was present in 34.84% [95% CI=30.40–39.28], anti-IgM was detected in 6.33% [95% CI=4.06–8.61]. The overall and IgG seroprevalence increased with age in both the genders and there was a sharp increase in the seropositivity after the age of 40 years [adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR)=2.98, p-value=0.030]. The seropositivity rate was significantly higher in individuals from Uttarakhand in both the hilly region (aOR=5.61; 95%CI:[2.14-14.68]) and plains (aOR=5.14; 95%CI:[2.2-12.02]). Multivariable logistic regression analysis also showed that being rural residents (aOR=3.23; 95%CI:[1.67-6.23]) and presence of comorbidities (aOR=8.64; 95%CI:[4.62-16.18]) were potential risk factors of Toxoplasmosis. On the other hand, consumption of vegetarian diet was found to have a protective effect (aOR=0.46; 95%CI:[0.28-0.75]).ConclusionSeroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies was relatively high in Uttarakhand, particularly in rural and hilly terrain, indicating a necessity for the implementation of integrated public health strategies to prevent and control toxoplasmosis in this region.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis among University of Kirkuk female students.

The study was conducted in the College of Education/Hawija, University of Kirkuk from September 1st, 2018 until the period February 28th, 2019. The first part included determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, which involved collecting blood from the female students from different stages in the different colleges of the University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk province (northeastern Iraq), ranged ˂20-24 years old. All necessary information was recorded using a questionnaire prepared for this purpose. In the current cross-sectional study, 210 blood specimens were collected from participants. Blood specimens were examined for evaluated the levels of specific anti-toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies using the protocol of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results revealed that the total infection of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies was 9.05% for IgG via 3.33% for IgM with significant difference at p<0.05. According to risk factors, the univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that only increase in domestic cats' owners and directly contact with the soil (gardening in the house) had a corresponding increase with distribution of the infection (p<0.05). Data in the present study revealed that the toxoplasmosis seroprevalence ratio among participants was 12.38%. It was observed that all of the risk factors in the present study had no statistically association with the toxoplasmosis seroprevalence, except cat ownership and house gardening once, where they were showed a highest odd ratio.

Decreasing trend in Toxoplasma seroprevalence among pregnant women in Kuwait.

Primary toxoplasmosis early in pregnancy may cause fetal pathology. Understanding and documenting serological epidemiology and associated risk factors about Toxoplasma gondii infection is crucial to offering appropriate interventions to prevent such fetal pathology. To determine the seroepidemiological status and major risk factors associated with T. gondii infection among pregnant women in Kuwait. This was an observational cross-sectional multicentre descriptive study. Blood samples and sociodemographic information were collected from 280 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics. The blood samples were screened with VIDAS Toxo-IgG/IgM and SERIONE IgG/IgM and IgG avidity assays to detect T. gondii-specific antibodies. Overall seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies among pregnant women was 12.5% and 2.1%, respectively. Only two IgG-positive women had low IgG avidity suggesting acute infection. No significant association was observed between seroprevalence and known risk factors for toxoplasmosis. This is believed to be the first study of T. gondii infection and its associated risk factors among pregnant women in Kuwait. The seroprevalence rate of 12.5% is one of the lowest in the Middle East. There was no significant association between T. gondii seroprevalence and known risk factors. This may have been due to the high education level (>94%) among pregnant women that may have changed women's behavior during pregnany, thus minimizing transmission of toxoplasmosis.

Unpasteurised milk consumption as a potential risk factor for toxoplasmosis in females with recurrent pregnancy loss

In women with a bad obstetric history, certain infections are associated with recurrent foetal loss. One of the common infectious agents is a protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. The aim of this study was to assess unpasteurised milk consumption as a potential risk factor for toxoplasmosis in females with recurrent pregnancy loss from the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. In this study, we recruited a total of 360 females, comprising a study group of 180 females with previous history of recurrent pregnancy loss and a control group of 180 females with no such history. Blood serum from the participants was analysed for Toxoplasma gondii IgM antibodies by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Among the study group, 23 (12.8%) females were serologically positive for IgM antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, whilst 157 (87.2%) were IgM negative. In the control group, only two (4.8%) females were IgM positive, whilst 178 (95.2%) were IgM negative. Bad pregnancy outcome in the study group and control group was observed to be significantly different (p < .0001). In both of these groups, unpasteurised milk consumption was found as a major risk factor for Toxoplasma gondii infection. A routine serological investigation should be carried out in pregnant women to rule out toxoplasmosis and reduce the risk of recurrent pregnancy loss as well as congenital toxoplasmosis in newborns.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies ranges from 7% to 51% in different regions of the world. The prevalence rate varies because of differences in climate, culture, food habits, behaviour, personal hygiene and cooking habits of different societies and ethnic groups. Various risk factors have been identified that contribute to a high prevalence rate of the disease, including consumption of raw or poorly cooked meat, physical contact with cats or cat litter, consumption of unwashed raw vegetables and fruits, drinking of contaminated water and milk. We presumed that consuming unpasteurised milk could be a potential risk factor for developing toxoplasmosis in pregnant women.What the results of this study add? This study demonstrates high seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in females of child bearing age that have consumed unpasteurised milk and is a potential risk factor for developing toxoplasmosis.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Our findings suggest that primary preventive measures (personal hygiene, frequent hand washing and consuming pasteurised milk) should be taken by health surveillance authorities to focus on families, especially pregnant women, to educate them about personal hygiene, contact with cattle or using their milk and milk products. The latter is especially important to aware them about the hazards of consuming unpasteurised and contaminated milk.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. infections among pregnant women with and without previous abortions in the west of Iran.

In spite of the importance of toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis among the high-risk groups, such as pregnant women, the infections are categorized as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. infections can cause systemic and ocular diseases in infants during pregnancy. In this study, we investigated seroprevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis and their co-infection in pregnant women and non-pregnant women referred to the healthcare facilities of Ilam province, west of Iran. A total of 378 sera samples (189 pregnant women and 189 non-pregnant women) was investigated for the presence of IgG antibodies against T. gondii and Toxocara spp. by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The samples of all pregnant women with abortion (56 cases) were also evaluated for IgM anti-toxoplasmosis antibody by ELISA method. Moreover, associated factors were obtained from the participant's questionnaires. Data analysis for this study was performed using the spss software version 20. Seroprevalence of T. gondii, Toxocara spp., and their co-infection in pregnant women was 39.7%, 21.2% and 9.5%, respectively. Regarding the risk factors, the contact with a cat (P = 0.04) and dog (P = 0.00) were significantly associated with T. gondii and Toxocara spp., respectively. This study highlighted the importance of serological diagnosis before pregnancy. Moreover, we believe that more epidemiological studies are needed for a better understanding of overlaps between T. gondii and Toxocara spp. in pregnant women.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM Antibodies and Associated Risks Factors in Tuberculosis Patients Admitted at the Bamenda Regional Hospital, NW Cameroon

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution amongst warm-blooded animals and can affect anyone in contact with the parasitic oocysts or tissue cysts. Tuberculosis (TB) and T. gondii coinfection is a serious public health problem to the health of these patients in developing countries. We determined the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies and associated risk factors among newly diagnosed sputum positive pulmonary TB patients. Materials and methods: This was a cross sectional study including 158 TB patients. Laboratory analyses were based on quantification of anti T.gondii IgM and IgG antibodies test using sandwich ELISA. A questionnaire captured known risk factors for toxoplasmosis among participants. Risk factors for toxoplasmosis were analyzed in a binary logistic model. The results presented as odds ratios were used to assess association of toxoplasmosis and potential risk factors. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: Of the 158 participants, 87.97% [139/158] were seropositive for Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG antibodies. Eating cat meat [P=0.009, OR=4.2498, 95%CI=1.4300-11.1997] and water source [P=0.026, OR=5.4983, CI=1.2189-23.5827], were significant risk factors associated with T. gondii infection. We noted a threefold increase in the risk of toxoplasmosis among TB patients having farming as occupation. Conclusion: The prevalence of toxoplasmosis IgM and IgG antibodies among sputum positive pulmonary TB patients in the Bamenda Regional Hospital, North West Cameroon was found to be 87.97%. The principal risk factor associated with Toxoplasma gondii among TB patients was consumption of Cat meat and untreated water sources.

Seroepidemiology and risk factors of toxoplasmosis among children age ranged from 1 to 14 years referred to medical diagnostic laboratories in Southeast Iran

BackgroundToxoplasmosis is one of the most common protozoan diseases in both developing and developed countries. Human infection occurred by incidental ingestion of oocyst-contaminated food, water, soil or tissue of raw meat. Studies of infection in Iranian children are infrequent. In this study, we investigated seroprevalence, and risk factors of toxoplasmosis among children under 15 years old in Sistan and Baluchistan province, Southeastern Iran. Materials and methods869 sera samples were investigated for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies by ELISA. Moreover, the participant's data were collected to study their association with infection. Data analysis for this study was performed using the SPSS software version 20. ResultsT. gondii IgG antibodies were detected in 16.2% (141/869) of children in this study. Regarding the sociodemographic variables, age, male gender, contact with animal pets and white blood cells (WBC) count were significantly associated with toxoplasmosis (P < 0.001). ConclusionOur study showed relatively high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among children in Sistan and Baluchistan province. Our data considered a vital tool for healthcare authorities. Further investigations are needed in different part of Iran especially among high-risk groups of toxoplasmosis.

Seroprevalence And Risk Factors of Toxoplasmosis among Undergraduate Female Students of University of Duhok

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii parasite. University female students are at the age of childbearing and their status of T. gondii infection is important. Thus, early detection and therapy are of extraordinary importance. Therefore, this study aimed to find out the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among undergraduate female students of University of Duhok. A cluster stratified sampling procedure was used for each college in Duhok University and a proportionate number pulled from each stratum as a simple random sampling procedure. So, the four hundred ninety-six (496) serum samples were collected from November 2017 to February 2018. A questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and risk factors-related data. The venous blood specimens were examined for anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies by using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay to detect Anti-Immunoglobulin G and M related to Toxoplasma gondii. Analyzing data were done through the application of SPSS software (Version 23 IBM). The finding of the present study revealed that the mean age of respondents was 21 years (SD ±1.668). Besides, 220 (44.4%) were found out to be seropositive for Toxoplasma gondii Anti-Immunoglobulin G and 55 (11.1%) for Anti-Immunoglobulin M antibodies. In addition, the more dominant risk factors that rose throughout the present study were among those they do not have information regarding toxoplasmosis and took raw or undercooked meat. Likewise, the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection was high in female students at University of Duhok. &nbsp

Toxoplasmosis knowledge and preventive behavior among pregnant women in the city of Imperatriz, Maranhão, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to assess toxoplasmosis knowledge and preventive behavior, and relate these to socioeconomic, pre-natal and environmental issues among pregnant women served by the Family Health Strategy in the municipality of Imperatriz, Maranhão, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study performed by applying a structured and pre-tested questionnaire to a sample of 239 pregnant women. Only 23.4% of the pregnant women had good knowledge of the disease, primarily in the area of prevention, and 58.9% adopted suitable preventive behaviors. The results obtained show a significant association of various toxoplasmosis risk factors, such as drinking untreated water (OR = 2.1245; IC95% = 1.20-3.73; p = 0.0128), contact with cats (OR = 7.6875; IC95% = 4.22-13.97; p < 0,0001), cleaning cat feces (OR = 6.8738; IC95% = 3.02-15.60; p < 0.0001), eating raw meat (OR = 5.7405; IC95% = 3.21-10.24 and handling sand/cat litter OR = 10.7376; IC95% = 4.64-24.85; p < 0.0001). This shows a need for continued education on toxoplasmosis for the pregnant women seen by the Imperatriz FHS, and for more comprehensive preventive measures, with public health and education policies that take into consideration economic, social, environmental and cultural issues.

First report on seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep and goats in North Lebanon.

Toxoplasmosis is of dual importance in both public and veterinary health due to the respective risk of transplacental transmission in primo-infected pregnant women and economic losses caused by abortions in mammals. One of the main routes of Toxoplasma gondii transmission to humans is the consumption of raw or undercooked meats containing parasitic cysts. Here, we performed the first epidemiological study to determine the seroprevalence and the risk factors of toxoplasmosis in livestock in Lebanon. Using a modified agglutination test with a cut-off of 1:40, we tested the positivity rate of Immunoglobulin G antibodies in the sera of 100 sheep and 80 goats collected from 18 different livestock farms located in North Lebanon between March and June 2018. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies were detected in 42% of sheep and 34% of goats. Adults (> 1 year) were significantly more infected by T. gondii than the lambs (< 1 year) in both species (p < 0.05). These findings indicated that food animals are highly exposed to T. gondii in Lebanon and could be potentially a major risk factor of T. gondii infection to humans. Consequently, national prophylactic strategies should be implemented to control and to prevent T. gondii transmission between animals and humans.

Male-to-Female Transmission of Toxoplasmosis Between Sexual Partners

Background: Toxoplasmosis is one of the most widespread human parasitoses in the developed countries. Toxoplasma gondii has been found in the ejaculate of various animals, including human. Sexual transmission of this zoonosis has been confirmed in several animal species but not in human. Nevertheless, a large part of infections in mothers of children with congenital toxoplasmosis cannot be explained by contact with any currently known risk factor, while high prevalence of toxoplasmosis has been observed in the fathers of children with this diagnosis. This indirect evidence supports the hypothesis of sexual transmission of toxoplasmosis in humans. Methods: We compared the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in couples and analysed various risk factors for toxoplasmosis including the infection status of sexual partner. By comparing the risk factors for Toxoplasma infection in men and women, we tested the hypothesis of man-to-woman sexual transmission of toxoplasmosis. Findings The prevalence of toxoplasmosis in women with infected male partners (25·6%; n=156) was higher than the prevalence in women with uninfected male partners (18·2%; n=477; p=0·023). Partner's infection therefore seems to be a risk factor for infection in women (n=593; odd ratio=1·602; p=0·022) but not in men (n=573; odds ratio=1·064; p=0·816). Interpretation: Our results support the hypothesis of sexual transmission of toxoplasmosis from men to women. The risk may seem relatively low, but transmission can occur during unprotected sexual intercourse, which may be the time of conception. Due to the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis, even a lower risk of infection than that observed in our study can represent a serious public health problem. Funding Statement: Charles University Grant Agency (number 104218), Czech Science Foundation Grant (number 18-13692S), Charles University Research Centre program (number 204056) and RVO-VFN64165 from the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Blood samples for serological testing for toxoplasmosis were taken during a routine examination. This research has been repeatedly approved by Ethics Committee of General University Hospital in Prague (No. 384/16; 92/17) and by Institutional review board of Faculty of Science, Charles University (No. 2015/29).

Sero-epidemiological status and risk factors of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Northern Vietnam

BackgroundIn Vietnam, few studies have determined the epidemiological status of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and no routine prenatal screening is in place. This study was conducted to evaluate the seroprevalence of this zoonotic parasitic infection in pregnant women in Northern Vietnam and to assess the association with awareness, risk factors and congenital toxoplasmosis.MethodsApproximately 800 pregnant women were included in the study from two hospitals, one in Hanoi and one in Thai Binh province, which is known to have a dense cat population. Serological immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) detection was performed to estimate the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis and sero-incidence of maternal and congenital toxoplasmosis. In addition, a survey was conducted about awareness, clinical history, presentation of signs and symptoms relating to toxoplasmosis and to detect biologically plausible and socio-demographic risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis. Associations with seroprevalence were assessed using univariable and multivariable analysis.ResultsThe mean IgG seroprevalence after the full diagnostic process was 4.5% (95% confidence interval(CI): 2.7–7.0) and 5.8% (95% CI: 3.7–8.6) in Hanoi and Thai Binh hospital, respectively, and included one seroconversion diagnosed in Thai Binh hospital. Only 2.0% of the pregnant women in Hanoi hospital and 3.3% in Thai Binh hospital had heard about toxoplasmosis before this study.ConclusionSince the percentage of seronegative, and thus susceptible, pregnant women was high and the awareness was low, we suggest to distribute information about toxoplasmosis and its prevention among women of child bearing age. Furthermore, future studies are recommended to investigate why such a low seroprevalence was seen in pregnant women in Northern Vietnam compared to other countries in South East Asia and globally.