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Journé A, Garweg J, Ksiazek E, Peyron F, Binquet C, Wallon M. Long-term Ocular Outcomes in Congenital Toxoplasmosis Treated Perinatally. Pediatrics 2024; 153:e2023064114. [PMID: 38454832 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-064114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) can be accompanied by serious organ manifestations, particularly retinochoroiditis, and may occur throughout life. We aimed to monitor long-term ocular prognosis in a large French cohort of patients with CT and its changes over time in the context of mandatory prenatal screening (since 1992) and incidence decrease since 2008. METHODS Patients with CT diagnosed between 1987 and 2021 were prospectively included and followed for up to 35 years. The effect of the period of conception on the risk of first retinochoroiditis has been tested using a flexible extension of the Cox model. Incidence rates of retinochoroiditis were estimated. RESULTS A total of 646 infected live born children were followed for a median of 12 years (range, 0.5-35); 187 patients (29%) had at least 1 ocular lesion (first at a median age of 5 years; range, 0-26 years) with peaks at 7 and 12 years. Early maternal infection and the presence of nonocular signs at birth were associated with a higher risk of retinochoroiditis, whereas delayed diagnosis of CT (after birth versus before or at birth) was associated with a lower risk (13% decrease for each additional month after birth; P = .01). A period effect for the risk of developing retinochoroiditis in patients born after 2008 was not detected. CONCLUSIONS Despite prenatal screening and prolonged perinatal treatment, retinochoroiditis is not a rare event in French patients with CT and can occur well into adulthood, with peak incidences at 7 and 12 years of age. It rarely causes severe damage but warrants regular follow-up into adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Journé
- CHU Dijon-Bourgogne, Inserm, Université de Bourgogne, CIC1432 Module Epidémiologie Clinique, Dijon, France
| | - Justus Garweg
- Swiss Eye Institute and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Eléa Ksiazek
- CHU Dijon-Bourgogne, Inserm, Université de Bourgogne, CIC1432 Module Epidémiologie Clinique, Dijon, France
| | - François Peyron
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Institut des Agents Infectieux, Lyon, France
- Waking Team, Lyon Neurosciences Research Center, Bron, France
| | - Christine Binquet
- CHU Dijon-Bourgogne, Inserm, Université de Bourgogne, CIC1432 Module Epidémiologie Clinique, Dijon, France
| | - Martine Wallon
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Institut des Agents Infectieux, Lyon, France
- Waking Team, Lyon Neurosciences Research Center, Bron, France
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Li Y, Guo J, Zhang H, Li Z, Ren Y, Jiang Y, Liu X, Hu X. LILRB4 regulates the function of decidual MDSCs via the SHP-2/STAT6 pathway during Toxoplasma gondii infection. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:237. [PMID: 37461040 PMCID: PMC10353217 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05856-4] [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: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii infection can cause adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as recurrent abortion, fetal growth restriction and infants with malformations, among others. Decidual myeloid-derived suppressor cells (dMDSCs) are a novel immunosuppressive cell type at the fetal-maternal interface which play an important role in sustaining normal pregnancy that is related to their high expression of the inhibitory molecule leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B4 (LILRB4). It has been reported that the expression of LILRB4 is downregulated on decidual macrophages after T. gondii infection, but it remains unknown whether T. gondii infection can induce dMDSC dysfunction resulting from the change in LILRB4 expression. METHODS LILRB4-deficient (LILRB4-/-) pregnant mice infected with T. gondii with associated adverse pregnancy outcomes, and anti-LILRB4 neutralized antibodies-treated infected human dMDSCs were used in vivo and in vitro experiments, respectively. The aim was to investigate the effect of LILRB4 expression on dMDSC dysfunction induced by T. gondii infection. RESULTS Toxoplasma gondii infection was observed to reduce STAT3 phosphorylation, resulting in decreased LILRB4 expression on dMDSCs. The levels of the main functional molecules (arginase-1 [Arg-1], interleukin-10 [IL-10]) and main signaling molecules (phosphorylated Src-homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase [p-SHP2], phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 [p-STAT6]) in dMDSCs were all significantly reduced in human and mouse dMDSCs due to the decrease of LILRB4 expression induced by T. gondii infection. SHP-2 was found to directly bind to STAT6 and STAT6 to bind to the promoter of the Arg-1 and IL-10 genes during T. gondii infection. CONCLUSIONS The downregulation of LILRB4 expression on dMDSCs induced by T. gondii infection could regulate the expression of Arg-1 and IL-10 via the SHP-2/STAT6 pathway, resulting in the dysfunction of dMDSCs, which might contribute to adverse outcomes during pregnancy by T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuantao Li
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjing Guo
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Haixia Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhidan Li
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yushan Ren
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuzhu Jiang
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianbing Liu
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuemei Hu
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
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dos Santos DA, Souza HFS, Silber AM, de Souza TDACB, Ávila AR. Protein kinases on carbon metabolism: potential targets for alternative chemotherapies against toxoplasmosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1175409. [PMID: 37287468 PMCID: PMC10242022 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1175409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, a global disease that significantly impacts human health. The clinical manifestations are mainly observed in immunocompromised patients, including ocular damage and neuronal alterations leading to psychiatric disorders. The congenital infection leads to miscarriage or severe alterations in the development of newborns. The conventional treatment is limited to the acute phase of illness, without effects in latent parasites; consequently, a cure is not available yet. Furthermore, considerable toxic effects and long-term therapy contribute to high treatment abandonment rates. The investigation of exclusive parasite pathways would provide new drug targets for more effective therapies, eliminating or reducing the side effects of conventional pharmacological approaches. Protein kinases (PKs) have emerged as promising targets for developing specific inhibitors with high selectivity and efficiency against diseases. Studies in T. gondii have indicated the presence of exclusive PKs without homologs in human cells, which could become important targets for developing new drugs. Knockout of specific kinases linked to energy metabolism have shown to impair the parasite development, reinforcing the essentiality of these enzymes in parasite metabolism. In addition, the specificities found in the PKs that regulate the energy metabolism in this parasite could bring new perspectives for safer and more efficient therapies for treating toxoplasmosis. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the limitations for reaching an efficient treatment and explores the role of PKs in regulating carbon metabolism in Toxoplasma, discussing their potential as targets for more applied and efficient pharmacological approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Higo Fernando Santos Souza
- Laboratory of Biochemistry of Trypanosomes (LabTryp), Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ariel M. Silber
- Laboratory of Biochemistry of Trypanosomes (LabTryp), Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Andréa Rodrigues Ávila
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Apicomplexa, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz, Curitiba, Brazil
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Toxoplasma gondii in Foods: Prevalence, Control, and Safety. Foods 2022; 11:foods11162542. [PMID: 36010541 PMCID: PMC9407268 DOI: 10.3390/foods11162542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, with approximately one third of the population around the world seropositive. The consumption of contaminated food is the main source of infection. These include meat products with T. gondii tissue cysts, and dairy products with tachyzoites. Recently, contamination has been detected in fresh products with oocysts and marine products. Despite the great health problems that are caused by T. gondii, currently there are no standardized methods for its detection in the food industry. In this review, we analyze the current detection methods, the prevalence of T. gondii in different food products, and the control measures. The main detection methods are bioassays, cell culture, molecular and microscopic techniques, and serological methods, but some of these do not have applicability in the food industry. As a result, emerging techniques are being developed that are aimed at the detection of multiple parasites simultaneously that would make their application more efficient in the industry. Since the prevalence of this parasite is high in many products (meat and milk, marine products, and vegetables), it is necessary to standardize detection methods, as well as implement control measures.
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Paraboni MLR, Manfredini V, Schreiner GE, Gonçalves IL, Silveira C, Commodaro AG, Belfort R. Comparative study of oxidative stress and antioxidative markers in patients infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Parasitol Int 2022; 91:102645. [PMID: 35977613 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Recently, oxidative stress and antioxidative compounds have been described as potential biomarkers. However, there is no consensus on the most appropriate oxidative and antioxidative biomarkers for patients with Toxoplasma gondii. In the present study, we evaluated the levels of lipid, protein, DNA oxidative damage and antioxidants in samples from patients infected with T. gondii with and without ocular toxoplasmosis. The levels of MDA, TBARS, micronuclei, carbonyl, GSH, vitamin C and vitamin E were measured on samples from 8 patients positive for T. gondii antibodies with ocular toxoplasmosis (OT), 20 patients positive for T. gondii antibodies without ocular toxoplasmosis (non OT), and 12 healthy individuals negative for T. gondii antibodies. The levels of MDA, TBARS, carbonyl and micronuclei were significantly higher in non OT patients, while MDA and TBARS levels were lower in OT patients. In contrast, the antioxidative factors, GSH and vitamin E levels were significantly lower in non OT patients, while vitamin C was lower in non OT and OT patients. Additionally, non OT patients were indicated to be high producers of oxidative markers (TBARS, MDA, micronuclei and carbonyl), while control group was indicated to be high producer of antioxidative markers (GSH, vitamins C and E). However, OT patients were not found as high producers of oxidative nor antioxidative markers. Our results provide a starting point of possible markers to better understand the disease pathogenesis in patients infected with T. gondii. Additional studies are needed to clarify the potential contribution of oxidative and antioxidative markers in these patients population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Lúcia Romani Paraboni
- Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Universidade Regional Integrada Alto Uruguai e Missões, Sete de Setembro Avenue, 1621, Erechim, Rio Grande do Sul 99709-910, Brazil.
| | - Vanusa Manfredini
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Pampa, BR 472, Km 585, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
| | - Gênifer Erminda Schreiner
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Pampa, BR 472, Km 585, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
| | - Itamar Luís Gonçalves
- Universidade Regional Integrada Alto Uruguai e Missões, Sete de Setembro Avenue, 1621, Erechim, Rio Grande do Sul 99709-910, Brazil
| | - Claudio Silveira
- Clinica Silveira, Sete de Setembro Avenue, 1502, Erechim, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Rubens Belfort
- Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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de Paula HL, Vendrame SA, Wess LC, Konopka CK, Gonçalves TDL, Beck ST. Toxoplasma gondii outbreak in southern Brazil: heterogeneity of the serological humoral response in pregnant women and outcomes in newborns. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2022; 103:115724. [DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2022.115724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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de Paula HL, de Lucca L, Vendrame SA, Wess LC, dos Santos Stein C, Moresco RN, Beck ST, de Lima Gonçalves T. Delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase enzyme activity and the oxidative profile of pregnant women being treated for acute toxoplasmosis. Microb Pathog 2022; 164:105455. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Bollani L, Auriti C, Achille C, Garofoli F, De Rose DU, Meroni V, Salvatori G, Tzialla C. Congenital Toxoplasmosis: The State of the Art. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:894573. [PMID: 35874584 PMCID: PMC9301253 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.894573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii occurs worldwide and usually causes no symptoms. However, a primary infection of pregnant women, may infect the fetus by transplacental transmission. The risk of mother-to-child transmission depends on week of pregnancy at the time of maternal infection: it is low in the first trimester, may reach 90% in the last days of pregnancy. Inversely, however, fetal disease is more severe when infection occurs early in pregnancy than later. Systematic serologic testing in pregnant women who have no antibodies at the beginning of pregnancy, can accurately reveal active maternal infection. Therefore, the risk of fetal infection should be assessed and preventive treatment with spiramycin must be introduced as soon as possible to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission, and the severity of fetal infection. When maternal infection is confirmed, prenatal diagnosis with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) on amniotic fluid is recommended. If fetal infection is certain, the maternal treatment is changed to a combination of pyrimethamine-sulfonamide and folinic acid. Congenitally infected newborns are usually asymptomatic at birth, but at risk for tardive sequelae, such as blindness. When congenital infection is evident, disease include retinochoroiditis, cerebral calcifications, hydrocephalus, neurocognitive impairment. The diagnosis of congenital infection must be confirmed at birth and management, specific therapy, and follow-up with multidisciplinary counseling, must be guaranteed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Bollani
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Auriti
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Medical and Surgical Department of Fetus - Newborn - Infant, "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristian Achille
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Garofoli
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Domenico Umberto De Rose
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Medical and Surgical Department of Fetus - Newborn - Infant, "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Meroni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Salvatori
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Medical and Surgical Department of Fetus - Newborn - Infant, "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Chryssoula Tzialla
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
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Dubey JP. Outbreaks of clinical toxoplasmosis in humans: five decades of personal experience, perspectives and lessons learned. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:263. [PMID: 34011387 PMCID: PMC8136135 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04769-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii has a worldwide distribution and a very wide host range, infecting most warm-blooded hosts. Approximately 30% of humanity is infected with T. gondii, but clinical toxoplasmosis is relatively infrequent. Toxoplasmosis has a wide range of clinical symptoms involving almost all organ systems. In most persons that acquire infection postnatally, symptoms (when present) are mild and mimic other diseases such as flu, Lyme disease, Q fever, hematological alterations, or mumps. It is likely that clinical disease is more common than reported. The ingestion of infected meat or food and water contaminated with oocysts are the two main modes of postnatal transmission of Toxoplasma gondii. The infective dose and the incubation period of T. gondii infection are unknown because there are no human volunteer experiments. Methods Here, I have critically reviewed outbreaks of clinical toxoplasmosis in humans for the past 55 years, 1966–2020. Information from oocyst-acquired versus meat-acquired infections was assessed separately. Results Most outbreaks were from Brazil. There were no apparent differences in types or severity of symptoms in meat- versus oocyst-acquired infections. Fever, cervical lymphadenopathy, myalgia, and fatigue were the most important symptoms, and these symptoms were not age-dependent. The incubation period was 7–30 days. A genetic predisposition to cause eye disease is suspected in the parasites responsible for three outbreaks (in Brazil, Canada, and India). Only a few T. gondii tissue cysts might suffice to cause infection, as indicated by outbreaks affecting some (but not all) individuals sharing a meal of infected meat. Conclusions Whether the high frequency of outbreaks of toxoplasmosis in humans in Brazil is related to environmental contamination, poor hygiene, socioeconomic conditions, or to genotypes of T. gondii needs investigation. Graphic Abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitender P Dubey
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA.
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