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Ullmann J, Kodym P, Flegr J, Berenová D, Jirsová S, Kaňková Š. Oral Sex as a Potential Route for Toxoplasma Gondii Transmission: Experiment with Human Semen and Laboratory Mice Model. Acta Parasitol 2024; 69:1314-1318. [PMID: 38662074 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-024-00848-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most widespread parasites in the human population globally. Several modes of its transmission have been proposed: some are well-researched and confirmed, others remain unconfirmed. One unconfirmed hypothesis pertains to potential transmission of Toxoplasma gondii via oral sex (fellatio) in humans. A recent study found tissue cysts in the semen of men with latent toxoplasmosis. Therefore, we aimed to test the hypothesis of Toxoplasma gondii transmission through oral sex experimentally. METHODS Eighty-two laboratory mice were orally administered semen samples from 41 men with latent toxoplasmosis. These semen samples were examined for the presence of Toxoplasma gondii DNA using PCR. RESULTS We detected Toxoplasma gondii DNA in three of the 41 semen samples from men with latent toxoplasmosis. Oral administration of semen samples to laboratory mice did not result in parasite transmission. CONCLUSION We have not demonstrated the transmission of Toxoplasma to mice by oral exposure to semen from infected men. While this does not conclusively rule out the possibility of such transmission in humans, the results suggest that, if it does occur, this mode of transmission is likely infrequent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Ullmann
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Petr Kodym
- National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Flegr
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Dagmar Berenová
- National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Simona Jirsová
- Centre for Assisted Reproduction, Department of Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Šárka Kaňková
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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Voyiatzaki C, Zare Chormizi AD, Tsoumani ME, Efstathiou A, Konstantinidis K, Chaniotis D, Chrysos G, Argyraki A, Papastamopoulos V, Kotsianopoulou M. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among HIV Positive Patients under Surveillance in Greek Infectious Disease Units: A Screening Study with Comparative Evaluation of Serological Methods. Pathogens 2024; 13:375. [PMID: 38787227 PMCID: PMC11123859 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13050375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aims to screen for IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in the sera of 155 newly diagnosed Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive patients under surveillance in Greek Infectious Disease Units. Additionally, risk factors based on patient demographics were examined, and a comparative evaluation of commercially available serological methods was conducted. Three methods were employed to detect IgG antibodies against T. gondii: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Indirect Immunofluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT), and Western Blot (WB), which was used as a reference here. Forty-nine sera samples were true-positive for IgG antibodies against T. gondii, resulting in a 31.61% positivity rate, and the immunoassay test statistical reliability analysis resulted in higher IFAT accuracy (90.97%) compared to ELISA (76.26%). Furthermore, statistical analysis of demographic and immunological data included in the study placed female and foreign/non-Greek individuals at 2.24 (p = 0.0009) and 2.34 (p = 0.0006) times higher risk of positive T. gondii IgG testing compared to their male and Greek counterparts, respectively. Our findings on positivity rates and comparative serology underscore the importance of early and suitable screening measures for newly diagnosed HIV+ patients to mitigate the life-threatening outcomes that may arise from a potential subsequent T. gondii activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrysa Voyiatzaki
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Medical Laboratories Science, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
| | - Apollon Dareios Zare Chormizi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Medical Laboratories Science, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
| | - Maria E. Tsoumani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Medical Laboratories Science, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
| | - Antonia Efstathiou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Medical Laboratories Science, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
- Immunology of Infection Group, Department of Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Konstantinidis
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biology, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Chaniotis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Medical Laboratories Science, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Chrysos
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Tzaneio General Hospital of Piraeus, 18536 Athens, Greece
| | - Aikaterini Argyraki
- Department of Internal Medicine, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Vasileios Papastamopoulos
- 5th Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Unit, Evaggelismos General Hospital, 10676 Athens, Greece
| | - Marika Kotsianopoulou
- Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 11521 Athens, Greece
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Abdoli A, Ghaffarifar F, Sharifi Z, Taghipour A. Toxoplasma gondii infection and testosterone alteration: A systematic review and meta-analyses. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297362. [PMID: 38568993 PMCID: PMC10990213 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a worldwide distributed protozoan parasite which has infected a wide range of warm-blooded animals and humans. The most common form of T. gondii infection is asymptomatic (latent); nevertheless, latent toxoplasmosis can induce various alterations of sex hormones, especially testosterone, in infected humans and animals. On the other hand, testosterone is involved in behavioral traits and reproductive functions in both sexes. Hence, the purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the available evidence regarding the association between T. gondii infection and testosterone alteration. METHODS In the setting of a systematic review, an electronic search (any date to 10 January 2023) without language restrictions was performed using Science Direct, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The PRISMA guidelines were followed. Following the initial search, a total of 12,306 titles and abstracts were screened initially; 12,281 were excluded due to the lack of eligibility criteria or duplication. Finally, 24 articles met the included criteria. A mean±standard deviation (SD) was calculated to assess the difference of testosterone between T. gondii positive and T. gondii negative humans. The possibility of publication bias was assessed using Egger's regression. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS This systematic review identified 24 articles (18 studies in humans and six studies in animals). Most human studies (13 out of 19) reported an increased level of testosterone following latent toxoplasmosis in males, while three studies reported decreased levels and two studies reported an insignificant change. Eleven articles (seven datasets in males and seven datasets in females) were eligible to be included in the data synthesis. Based on the random-effects model, the pooled mean± SD of testosterone in T. gondii positive than T. gondii negative was increased by 0.73 and 0.55 units in males and females, respectively. The Egger's regression did not detect a statistically significant publication bias in males and females (p = value = 0.95 and 0.71), respectively. Three studies in male animals (rats, mice, and spotted hyenas) and two studies in female animals (mice and spotted hyenas) reported a decline in testosterone in infected compared with non-infected animals. While, one study in female rats reported no significant changes of testosterone in infected than non-infected animals. Moreover, two studies in male rats reported an increased level of testosterone in infected than non-infected animals. CONCLUSIONS This study provides new insights about the association between T. gondii infection and testosterone alteration and identifies relevant data gaps that can inform and encourage further studies. The consequence of increased testosterone levels following T. gondii infection could partly be associated with increased sexual behavior and sexual transmission of the parasite. On the other hand, declining testosterone levels following T. gondii infection may be associated with male reproductive impairments, which were observed in T. gondii-infected humans and animals. Furthermore, these findings suggest the great need for more epidemiological and experimental investigations in depth to understand the relationship between T. gondii infection and testosterone alteration alongside with future consequences of testosterone alteration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Abdoli
- Zoonoses Research Center, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ghaffarifar
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Sharifi
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Taghipour
- Zoonoses Research Center, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
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Heddergott M, Pikalo J, Müller F, Osten-Sacken N, Steinbach P. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Wild American Mink ( Neogale vison): The First Serological Study in Germany and Poland. Pathogens 2024; 13:153. [PMID: 38392891 PMCID: PMC10892754 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13020153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan that causes toxoplasmosis in warm-blooded animals. Although most infections in humans and animals are subclinical, an infection can nevertheless be fatal. One of the important characteristics in the epidemiology of this parasite is waterborne transmission. The American mink (Neogale vison), a mammal closely adapted to freshwater ecosystems, is a potential sentinel for T. gondii. We analysed meat juice from the heart of 194 wild minks collected between 2019 and 2022 in five study areas from Germany and Poland and tested for the presence of antibodies against T. gondii. The analysis was performed using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test (ELISA). Antibodies were detected in 45.36% (88/194, 95% confidence interval (CI): 38.39-52.41%) of the analysed animals. While the prevalence values ranged from 37.50% to 49.30%, there was no significant difference in seroprevalence between the study areas. Juveniles were less likely to carry T. gondii antibodies than adults (odds ratio: 0.216), whereas there was no significant difference in prevalence between the sexes (odds ratio: 0.933). The results of our study show that contact with T. gondii is widespread in minks, and the parasite is common in inland freshwater ecosystems in Germany and Poland. This indicates that watercourses play an important role in the spread of T. gondii oocysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike Heddergott
- Department of Zoology, Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, 2160 Luxembourg, Luxembourg;
| | - Jutta Pikalo
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Franz Müller
- Wildlife Biology Working Group, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
| | - Natalia Osten-Sacken
- Institute for Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Toruń, Poland;
| | - Peter Steinbach
- Department of Zoology, Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, 2160 Luxembourg, Luxembourg;
- Faculty of Chemistry, Georg-August University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
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Bazmjoo A, Bagherzadeh MA, Raoofi R, Taghipour A, Mazaherifar S, Sotoodeh H, Ostadi Z, Shadmand E, Jahromi MAM, Abdoli A. Toxoplasma gondii, HBV, and HCV co-infection and their correlation with CD4 cells among Iranian HIV-positive patients. Immun Inflamm Dis 2023; 11:e794. [PMID: 36840494 PMCID: PMC9947625 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) infected patients have a higher risk of opportunistic infections (OIs) depending on their immunological status, especially CD4 + cell count. Toxoplasma gondii, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are important OIs among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients. However, little is known about co-infection of these pathogens among HIV-infected individuals and their correlation with the patient's CD4 + cell count. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the serological and molecular status of T. gondii infection among HIV-infected individuals who had co-infection with HBV and HCV infections. METHODS A total of 100 HIV/AIDS patients in two cities in the southwest of Iran was tested for T. gondii Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies as well as DNA detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the RE gene. HBV and HCV were detected by hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) test, hepatitis C antibody (HCV Ab) test, and Real-Time PCR. The number of CD4 + cell counts was determined by Flow cytometry. RESULTS Anti-T. gondii IgG was positive in 22% of the patients, but anti-T. gondii IgM and PCR were negative in all samples. HBV and HCV were positive in 8% and 33% of the patients, respectively. Co-infections were as followed: HIV + HCV (16%), HIV + HCV + T. gondii (11%), HIV + T. gondii (5%), HIV + HBV (1%), HIV + HBV + T. gondii (1%), HIV + HBV + HCV (1%), and HIV + HBV + HCV + T. gondii (5%). A significant decline in CD4 + cell counts was found in such co-infection groups (HIV + T. gondii, HIV + HCV + T. gondii, and HIV + HBV + HCV + T. gondii) compared with the HIV mono-infection group. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that co-infections of T. gondii, HCV, and HBV were common among HIV-infected patients and co-infections had a negative correlation with CD4 + cell counts of the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmadreza Bazmjoo
- Zoonoses Research CenterJahrom University of Medical SciencesJahromIran,Student Research CommitteeJahrom University of Medical SciencesJahromIran
| | - Mohammad Aref Bagherzadeh
- Zoonoses Research CenterJahrom University of Medical SciencesJahromIran,Student Research CommitteeJahrom University of Medical SciencesJahromIran
| | - Rahim Raoofi
- Zoonoses Research CenterJahrom University of Medical SciencesJahromIran,Department of Infectious DiseasesJahrom University of Medical SciencesJahromIran
| | - Ali Taghipour
- Zoonoses Research CenterJahrom University of Medical SciencesJahromIran,Department of Parasitology and MycologyJahrom University of Medical SciencesJahromIran
| | - Samaneh Mazaherifar
- Zoonoses Research CenterJahrom University of Medical SciencesJahromIran,Department of Parasitology and MycologyJahrom University of Medical SciencesJahromIran
| | | | - Zahra Ostadi
- Department of Disease ControlFasa University of Medical SciencesFasaIran
| | - Enayat Shadmand
- Zoonoses Research CenterJahrom University of Medical SciencesJahromIran,Department of Parasitology and MycologyJahrom University of Medical SciencesJahromIran
| | - Mirza A. M. Jahromi
- Zoonoses Research CenterJahrom University of Medical SciencesJahromIran,Department of ImmunologyJahrom University of Medical SciencesJahromIran,Department of Advanced Medical Sciences & TechnologiesJahrom University of Medical SciencesJahromIran
| | - Amir Abdoli
- Zoonoses Research CenterJahrom University of Medical SciencesJahromIran,Department of Parasitology and MycologyJahrom University of Medical SciencesJahromIran
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Advances and Challenges in Diagnostics of Toxoplasmosis in HIV-Infected Patients. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12010110. [PMID: 36678458 PMCID: PMC9862295 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12010110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a worldwide distributed protozoan parasite. This apicomplexan parasite infects one-third of the population worldwide, causing toxoplasmosis, considered one of the neglected parasitic infections. In healthy humans, most infections are asymptomatic. However, in immunocompromised patients, the course of the disease can be life-threatening. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients have a very high burden of Toxoplasma gondii co-infection. Thus, it is essential to use modern, sensitive, and specific methods to properly monitor the course of toxoplasmosis in immunodeficient patients.
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