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Mohammed A, Ahmed M, Ibrahim N. The global seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in workers occupationally exposed to animals (1972-2023): a systematic review and meta-analysis. Vet Q 2024; 44:1-18. [PMID: 39205625 PMCID: PMC11363739 DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2024.2396577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, a ubiquitous zoonotic parasite infecting warm-blooded animals, poses a significant health threat to workers with occupational animal exposure (WOEA) due to their frequent contact with potential reservoirs. Existing data on T. gondii seroprevalence in the WOEA exhibits substantial global variation. This systematic review and meta-analysis, adhering to PRISMA guidelines, aimed to quantify the global seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among WOEA over the past five decades (1972-2023). We identified 66 eligible studies through a comprehensive search strategy encompassing English publications, with a total sample size of 15,279. A random-effects model with the Freeman-Tukey transformation in STATA v16.0 accounted for the high heterogeneity observed. We estimated the pooled global seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in WOEA at 41% (95% CI: 36-47%). Subgroup analyses revealed significant variations by gender: males (63%) vs. females (37%) (p < 0.05), occupation: non-livestock workers (54%), livestock workers (47%), slaughterhouse workers (44%), and veterinary personnel (27%) (p < 0.05). Geographic trends showed the highest prevalence in Africa (51%), followed by South America (49%), Europe (47%), Australia (43%), Asia (36%), and North America (23%; p < 0.05). Lower prevalence was observed in high-income (39%) and upper-middle-income (38%) countries compared to lower-middle-income (44%) and low-income (48%) countries (p < 0.05). This analysis underscores the high global seroprevalence of T. gondii in the WOEA, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in this high-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Mohammed
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Gadarif, Gadarif, Sudan
| | - Musa Ahmed
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, AL-Salam University, West Kordofan, Sudan
| | - Nasir Ibrahim
- Department of Biology, Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Cook EAJ, Gitahi N, de Glanville WA, Thomas LF, Kariuki S, Kang'ethe E, Fèvre EM. Prevalence and risk factors for exposure to Toxoplasma gondii in slaughterhouse workers in western Kenya. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:944. [PMID: 34511066 PMCID: PMC8436527 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06658-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan parasite infecting warm-blooded animals. Infection in people can occur through ingestion of oocysts passed in the faeces of the definitive hosts; ingestion of bradyzoites in the tissue of infected intermediate hosts; or exposure to tachyzoites in raw milk and eggs. Slaughterhouse workers are considered a high-risk group for T. gondii exposure because of their contact with raw meat, although a positive relationship between handling raw meat and T. gondii seropositivity has not been demonstrated in all studies. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies to T. gondii in slaughterhouse workers in Kenya and identify risk factors associated with seropositivity. Methods A survey of slaughterhouse workers was conducted in 142 slaughter facilities in the study area. Information regarding demographics, contact with livestock, meat consumption, and practices in the slaughterhouse was collected using structured questionnaires. Commercial ELISAs were used to detect IgM and IgG antibodies against T. gondii and a multi-level logistic regression model was used to identify potential risk factors for seropositivity in slaughterhouse workers. Results The apparent prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii was 84.0% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 81.2–86.5%) for IgG and 2.2% (95% CI 1.3–3.5%) for IgM antibodies. All IgM positive individuals were IgG positive. Risk factors for exposure to T. gondii were: increasing age (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.03; 95% CI 1.01–1.05); owning poultry (OR 2.00; 95% CI 1.11–3.62); and consuming animal blood (OR 1.92; 95% CI 1.21–3.03). Conclusions The seroprevalence of antibodies to T. gondii was very high in this population and considerably higher than published values in the general population. Risk factors included age, owning poultry and drinking animal blood which were consistent with previous reports but none were specifically associated with working in the slaughterhouse. In this instance slaughterhouse workers may represent a useful sentinel for the general population where the level of exposure is also likely to be high and may signify an unidentified public health risk to vulnerable groups such as pregnant women. A detailed understanding of the epidemiology of infection is required, which should include an assessment of incidence, mortality, and burden since T. gondii infection is likely to have life-long sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Anne Jessie Cook
- International Livestock Research Institute, Old Naivasha Road, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya. .,Institute of Infection Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK.
| | - Nduhiu Gitahi
- University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053, Nairobi, 00625, Kenya
| | - William Anson de Glanville
- International Livestock Research Institute, Old Naivasha Road, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.,Center for One Health, University of Global Health Equity, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Lian F Thomas
- International Livestock Research Institute, Old Naivasha Road, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.,Institute of Infection Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Samuel Kariuki
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 19464, Nairobi, 00200, Kenya
| | | | - Eric Maurice Fèvre
- International Livestock Research Institute, Old Naivasha Road, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.,Institute of Infection Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK
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Siponen AM, Kinnunen PM, Koort J, Kallio-Kokko H, Vapalahti O, Virtala AM, Jokelainen P. Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in veterinarians in Finland: Older age, living in the countryside, tasting beef during cooking and not doing small animal practice associated with seropositivity. Zoonoses Public Health 2018; 66:207-215. [PMID: 30536784 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Practising veterinary medicine has an inherent risk of exposure to zoonotic agents, including the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. We screened sera of veterinarians authorized to work in Finland for the presence of specific immunoglobulin G antibodies against T. gondii with an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay, and evaluated potential risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity from extensive questionnaire data with almost 1,300 quantitative variables. We used a causal diagram approach to address the complexity of the life cycle of the parasite and its numerous possible transmission routes, and built a multivariable binomial logistic regression model to identify risk factors that are particularly relevant for veterinarians. The samples and questionnaire data were collected in 2009. Altogether, 294 veterinarians, almost 15% of the Finnish veterinary profession, were included in the study. The median age was 39 years, and the majority, 86%, were women. Altogether, 43 (14.6%; 95% confidence interval: 10.9-19.0) of the 294 veterinarians tested seropositive for T. gondii. According to the final model, veterinarians who were at least 40 years old had 2.4 times higher odds to be seropositive than younger veterinarians; veterinarians who lived in the countryside had 4.0 times higher odds to be seropositive than veterinarians who lived in towns; female veterinarians who tasted beef during cooking had 2.6 times higher odds to be seropositive than male veterinarians who did not taste beef during cooking; and veterinarians who did not do small animal practice had 2.3 times higher odds to be seropositive than those who did. The results illustrate the numerous transmission routes of T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paula M Kinnunen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joanna Koort
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hannimari Kallio-Kokko
- Department of Virology and Immunology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Vapalahti
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Virology and Immunology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna-Maija Virtala
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pikka Jokelainen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
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Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Yersinia antibodies and pregnancy outcome in Danish women with occupational exposure to animals. Int J Infect Dis 2014; 28:74-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2014.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Revised: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 06/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
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Sang-Eun L, Hong SH, Jeong YI, Lee JH, Yoo SJ, Lim HS, Lee WJ, Cho SH. Cross-sectional analysis of the seropositivity and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection among veterinarians, in relation to their public professional activities. Vet Parasitol 2014; 203:29-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2013] [Revised: 12/16/2013] [Accepted: 01/02/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemiologic studies suggest that environmental factors may be part of the yet unknown causation of multiple sclerosis (MS). Several case-control studies have shown a history of elevated exposure to organic solvents among cases. METHODS Three cohorts of 11,542 painters, 36,899 construction workers and 9,314 food-processing workers were identified by the 1970 census in Norway. The cohorts were followed until the end of 1986 for registration of disability pensions. RESULTS A total of nine painters, 12 construction workers and six food workers had received a disability pension because of MS. The relative risk for painters compared with workers not exposed to organic solvents was 2.0 (95% confidence inter-val = 0.9-4.5) for MS. CONCLUSIONS These results are compatible with the hypothesis of organic solvents being a possible risk factor for MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trond Riise
- Section for Occupational Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Bergen, Norway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Granström
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska Hospital, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
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