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Mulu Gelaw Y, Worku Dagnew G, Degu Alene G, Gangneux JP, Robert-Gangneux F. Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence among pregnant women in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012198. [PMID: 38781272 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012198] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis is a serious endemic zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasma infection during pregnancy can result in congenital transmission and serious fetal and neonatal complications. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the pooled seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and its determinants among pregnant women in African countries. METHODS All articles reporting the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in African countries and published from 2010 to 2023 were searched using various databases. The pooled prevalence of toxoplasmosis was calculated using a random-effect model. The variation between the included studies was assessed using a funnel plot and I2 heterogeneity statistics. To identify the sources of heterogeneity, sub-group analysis was further conducted by country, diagnostic method, and sub-African region. The association of prevalence rates with the socio-economic level and geoclimatic parameters was also explored. RESULTS In total, 29,383 pregnant women from 60 articles were included for analysis. The pooled T. gondii seroprevalence was 42.89% with high heterogeneity (I2 = 99.4%, P < 0.001). Sub-group analysis revealed variation by country (ranging from 2.62% in Namibia to 80.28% in Congo), diagnostic method used (from 8.66% in studies using a rapid diagnostic test to 55.69% in those using an agglutination test), and sub-African region (from 4.14% in regions of Southern Africa to 53.96 in Central Africa). Cat ownership (OR = 1.58) and the consumption of raw meat (OR = 1.50) and raw vegetables (OR = 1.48) had a statistically significant combined effect on T. gondii seroprevalence. No association was found between T. gondii prevalence and the level of income of the country or geoclimatic parameters. CONCLUSION The prevalence of toxoplasmosis infection among pregnant women in Africa is high, particularly in Central and Eastern Africa. The determinants of prevalence are multifactorial. Therefore, efforts should be made to increase the awareness of women concerning the risk factors for toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yared Mulu Gelaw
- School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
- Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Rennes, France
| | - Gizachew Worku Dagnew
- School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Getu Degu Alene
- School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Jean-Pierre Gangneux
- Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Rennes, France
| | - Florence Robert-Gangneux
- Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Rennes, France
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Yang Z, Yuan H, Nie L, Wen Q, Li H, Yang L, Song Y, Luo X, Zhang XX, Yuan ZG. Deciphering the epidemiological dynamics: Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in mainland China's food animals, 2010-2023. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1381537. [PMID: 38633748 PMCID: PMC11021580 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1381537] [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: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a significant protozoan pathogen among food animals. Despite the threat to public health by T. gondii infections, there's limited understanding of its seroprevalence and trends in food animals across mainland China. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infections among swine, sheep, goats, chickens, and cattle in mainland China from 2010 to 2023. Methods We searched cross-sectional studies published between 2010 and 2023 that reported the prevalence of T. gondii in food animals from databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China Biology Medicine Disc (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang data, and the China Science and Technology Journal Database (CQVIP). We performed subgroup analyses to explore the impact of different factors on the seroprevalence of T. gondii. Pooled estimates of T. gondii seroprevalence were calculated with a random-effects model. Results An analysis of 184 studies involving 211985 animals revealed a T. gondii overall seroprevalence of 15.3% (95% CI: 13.1-17.8). Although the seroprevalence of food animals across mainland China was relatively stable from 2010 to 2023, notable variations were observed across different animal types and regions (P < 0.01), along with changes in geographical distribution. Sample type, detection method, animal age, and history of abortion were identified as key risk factors for T. gondii seroprevalence. Conclusion The study conducted a meta-analysis on the seroprevalence of T. gondii in mainland China's Food Animals from 2010 to 2023, and identified key risk factors. These findings advance our understanding of T. gondii infection dynamics, offering critical insights for developing control strategies and guiding public health policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zipeng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hao Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Linchong Nie
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qingyuan Wen
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Haoxin Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Liulu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yining Song
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xun Luo
- Kerry Rehabilitation Medicine Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiu-Xiang Zhang
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zi-Guo Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Dini FM, Jacinto JGP, Cavallini D, Beltrame A, Del Re FS, Abram L, Gentile A, Galuppi R. Observational longitudinal study on Toxoplasma gondii infection in fattening beef cattle: serology and associated haematological findings. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:169. [PMID: 38520500 PMCID: PMC10960757 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08189-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is a globally distributed zoonotic infection with significant implications for human and animal health. This study investigated the prevalence of T. gondii infection in a population of beef cattle at three different stages of their productive lifespan and examined the impact of T. gondii serological status on blood parameters. A commercial beef fattening unit in Italy was the setting for this research, which involved a biosecurity assessment upon cattle arrival, blood sampling at three time points and Toxoplasma-specific serological testing using indirect fluorescent antibody tests (IFAT). Results revealed a dynamic pattern of T. gondii seropositivity in cattle, with an initial prevalence of 30.6% at arrival (T0) that increased to 44.6% at 14 days (T1) and then decreased slightly to 39.3% at slaughter after 5 months (T2). Interestingly, seroconversion was observed during the study, indicating ongoing infections, and antibody waning occurred in some animals. In terms of blood parameters, seropositive cattle exhibited significantly lower mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and a higher neutrophil-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio, suggesting an activation of the innate immune response. Furthermore, cattle with higher antibody titres displayed higher neutrophil counts. However, all blood parameters with a statistical significance were within the reference range. This study provides for the first time a longitudinal investigation on the serological status for T. gondii in naturally exposed beef cattle. These findings provide valuable insights into the clinico-pathological aspects of natural T. gondii exposure in cattle and underscore the importance of monitoring and managing T. gondii infection in livestock production systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo M Dini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy.
| | - Joana G P Jacinto
- Clinic for Ruminants, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Damiano Cavallini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | | | - Flavia S Del Re
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Laura Abram
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Arcangelo Gentile
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Roberta Galuppi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
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Assoni LCP, Nakashima F, de Sousa VP, Paduan NJ, Andreasse IR, Anghinoni TH, de Faria Junior GM, Ricci Junior O, Castiglioni L, Brandão CC, de Mattos LC, Ayo CM. Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in blood donors in a population from the northwestern region of São Paulo state, Brazil. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2024; 118:102-109. [PMID: 37647457 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trad060] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic infections worldwide with varying prevalence between human populations. These variations are mainly associated with human exposure to risk factors. In this article, the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and the risk factors associated with infection in 1729 blood donors from São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil were analysed. METHODS The serological tests for detecting immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-T. gondii were used. The risk factors associated with the infection were identified through the application of an epidemiological questionnaire. RESULTS The prevalence of T. gondii infection was 48.0%. The following factors were identified in the final model after multiple logistic regression analysis: drinking raw milk (p=0.003; odds ratio [OR] 1.364 [confidence interval {CI} 1.1 to 1.7]), residing in a rural area (p<0.0001; OR 2.764 [CI 1.7 to 4.6]) and receiving a blood transfusion (p=0.015; OR 1.856 [CI 1.1 to 3.0]). CONCLUSIONS The data obtained in this study showed that the blood donor population is exposed to risk factors related to infection by T. gondii. These data allow the establishment of control programs to contribute to public health in northwestern São Paulo state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letícia Carolina Paraboli Assoni
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Laboratório de Imunogenética, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | - Fabiana Nakashima
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Laboratório de Imunogenética, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | - Valquíria Pardo de Sousa
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Laboratório de Imunogenética, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | - Natália Juliana Paduan
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Laboratório de Imunogenética, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | - Isabela Rufino Andreasse
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Laboratório de Imunogenética, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | - Thelma Helena Anghinoni
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Laboratório de Imunogenética, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | - Geraldo Magela de Faria Junior
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Laboratório de Imunogenética, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | - Octávio Ricci Junior
- Hemocentro de São José do Rio Preto, Fundação Faculdade Regional de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FUNFARME), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5544, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | - Lilian Castiglioni
- Departamento de Epidemiologia e Saúde Coletiva - Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | - Cinara Cássia Brandão
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Laboratório de Imunogenética, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | - Luiz Carlos de Mattos
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Laboratório de Imunogenética, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | - Christiane Maria Ayo
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Laboratório de Imunogenética, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
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Calero-Bernal R, Gennari SM, Cano S, Salas-Fajardo MY, Ríos A, Álvarez-García G, Ortega-Mora LM. Anti- Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in European Residents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Studies Published between 2000 and 2020. Pathogens 2023; 12:1430. [PMID: 38133313 PMCID: PMC10745778 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121430] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis has a major impact on animal and public health. Information regarding the seroprevalence of human Toxoplasma gondii infections from a European perspective has not yet been compiled to date. Thus, the present review summarized available resident data from the period 2000-2020. The overall seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG was 32.1%, with great variability between countries (n = 30). The subgroup analysis identified different pooled prevalence data depending on the geographic area (p < 0.0001), target population (p = 0.0147), and serological diagnosis assays used (p = 0.0059). A high heterogeneity (I2 = 100%, p < 0.001; Q = 3.5e+05, d.f. = 135, p < 0.001) and degree of publication bias (Egger's test = 6.14, p < 0.001) were observed among the 134 studies considered. The occurrence of anti-T. gondii IgM, which was reported in 64.7% of studies, reached a pooled seroprevalence of 0.6%. In addition, among the eight main risk factors identified, "contact with soil", "consumption of undercooked beef", and "intake of unwashed vegetables" were the most significantly associated with infections. The fact that one-third of the European population has been exposed to T. gondii justifies extra efforts to harmonize surveillance systems and develop additional risk-factor analyses based on detailed source attribution assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Calero-Bernal
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.Y.S.-F.); (A.R.); (G.Á.-G.); (L.M.O.-M.)
| | - Solange María Gennari
- PhD Program in One Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Santo Amaro, São Paulo 04829-300, SP, Brazil;
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil
| | - Santiago Cano
- Computing Services, Research Support Center, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Martha Ynés Salas-Fajardo
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.Y.S.-F.); (A.R.); (G.Á.-G.); (L.M.O.-M.)
| | - Arantxa Ríos
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.Y.S.-F.); (A.R.); (G.Á.-G.); (L.M.O.-M.)
| | - Gema Álvarez-García
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.Y.S.-F.); (A.R.); (G.Á.-G.); (L.M.O.-M.)
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.Y.S.-F.); (A.R.); (G.Á.-G.); (L.M.O.-M.)
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6
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López-Ureña NM, Calero-Bernal R, Vázquez-Calvo Á, Sánchez-Sánchez R, Ortega-Mora LM, Álvarez-García G. A comparative study of serological tests used in the diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in small ruminants evidenced the importance of cross-reactions for harmonizing diagnostic performance. Res Vet Sci 2023; 165:105052. [PMID: 37864907 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.105052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a major foodborne zoonotic pathogen that can be transmitted through the consumption of raw or undercooked meat of small ruminants, among others. Serology has been suggested as an epidemiological indicator and several tests are available nowadays. However, there is no comparative study with the most used ones. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop and validate two in-house tests (Western blot -TgSALUVET WB- and ELISA -TgSALUVET ELISA 2.0-) and perform a comparative study including such tests and four commercial ELISA kits (IDScreen®, PrioCHECK®, Pigtype® and IDEXX). First, a specific pattern of recognition of immunodominant antigens by TgSALUVET WB was determined with serum panels of noninfected sheep and sheep infected with T. gondii or Neospora caninum. Next, TgSALUVET WB was used as a reference to preliminary validate TgSALUVET ELISA 2.0 using sera from sheep and goats naturally infected with T. gondii. Then, the abovementioned sheep serum panels were analyzed by all tests and subjected to TG-ROC analyses and agreement tests, and cross-reactivity with the anti-N. caninum IgGs was studied. All the techniques were accurate enough for the cutoff values initially suggested with all serum panels (Se and Sp ≥ 94%), except for PrioCHECK®, which showed 83% Sp. However, a cutoff readjustment improved their diagnostic performance. Additionally, cross-reactions between anti-N. caninum antibodies and T. gondii antigens were detected with all tests. Thus, a second cutoff readjustment was carried out and the use of both readjusted cutoff values is recommended to obtain comparable data and avoid false-positive results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia María López-Ureña
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid 28040, Spain.
| | - Rafael Calero-Bernal
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid 28040, Spain.
| | | | - Roberto Sánchez-Sánchez
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid 28040, Spain.
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid 28040, Spain.
| | - Gema Álvarez-García
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid 28040, Spain.
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Seeber F. Past and present seroprevalence and disease burden estimates of Toxoplasma gondii infections in Germany: An appreciation of the role of serodiagnostics. Int J Med Microbiol 2023; 313:151592. [PMID: 38056090 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2023.151592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is one of the major foodborne parasitic diseases in Germany, with 49% of its population chronically infected with its causative agent, Toxoplasma gondii. Although the acute disease is usually benign in immunocompetent individuals, it is a threat for immunocompromised patients as well as for fetuses of seronegative mothers. As a result of infection, congenital and ocular toxoplasmosis can have serious lifelong consequences. Here I will highlight the epidemiologic situation, from its past in the two separate parts of Germany, to its unification 30 years ago and up to the present day. The main identified risk factor for infection in Germany is thought to be the consumption of undercooked or raw meat or sausages. However, the relative impact of this risky eating habit as well as that of other risk factors are changing and are discussed and compared to the situation in the Netherlands. Finally, the importance of robust and efficient high-throughput serological assays for obtaining reliable epidemiological data, on which public health decisions can be made, is highlighted. The potential of bead-based multiplex assays, which allow the incorporation of multiple antigens with different analytical properties and thus yield additional information, are described in this context. It illustrates the interdependence of new analytic assay developments and sound epidemiology, a foundation that decades-old data from Germany did not have.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Seeber
- FG 16 - Mycotic and parasitic agents and mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestrasse 10, D-13353 Berlin, Germany.
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Yan X, Jin X, Gao J, Han W, Sun Y, Yu X, Liu P, Guo W, Chen J, Su L. Differences in Toxoplasma gondii distribution in different muscle and viscera of naturally infected sheep. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283867. [PMID: 37590205 PMCID: PMC10434916 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a zoonotic parasite that can cause serious pathology in intermediate hosts such as humans and animals. Eating undercooked or raw meat is the most important route of infection by T. gondii. Sheep are an important source of meat worldwide, and they are also susceptible to T. gondii. Mutton infected with T. gondii poses a serious threat to the food safety of consumers. At present, studies have mainly focused on the infection ratio of T. gondii in livestock; however, systematic studies have not been performed on differences in the distribution of this parasite in different muscle and viscera tissues of animals. In this study, the differences in the distribution of T. gondii in naturally infected Small-tailed Han sheep was studied. By amplifying the B1 gene of the parasite via real-time fluorescence quantification PCR (RT‒qPCR), we found that the parasite burden of T. gondii differed among different parts of the sheep, with the highest burden observed in the heart among the viscera and the external ridge among the muscle. The relative expression was ranked from high to low in our study as follows: heart, spleen, external ridge, tenderloin, lung, liver, kidney, neck meat, forelegs, cucumber strips, hind leg, lamb belly, and lamb chops. This study provided important guidance for monitoring the food safety of mutton products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinlei Yan
- Food Science and Engineering College of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 010018, Hohhot, China
| | - Xindong Jin
- Food Science and Engineering College of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 010018, Hohhot, China
| | - Jialu Gao
- Food Science and Engineering College of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 010018, Hohhot, China
| | - Wenying Han
- Food Science and Engineering College of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 010018, Hohhot, China
| | - Yufei Sun
- Food Science and Engineering College of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 010018, Hohhot, China
| | - Xiuli Yu
- Food Science and Engineering College of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 010018, Hohhot, China
| | - Pufang Liu
- Food Science and Engineering College of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 010018, Hohhot, China
| | - Wenhui Guo
- Food Science and Engineering College of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 010018, Hohhot, China
| | - Jia Chen
- Food Science and Engineering College of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 010018, Hohhot, China
| | - Lin Su
- Food Science and Engineering College of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 010018, Hohhot, China
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Symeonidou I, Sioutas G, Lazou T, Gelasakis AI, Papadopoulos E. A Review of Toxoplasma gondii in Animals in Greece: A FoodBorne Pathogen of Public Health Importance. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2530. [PMID: 37570337 PMCID: PMC10416908 DOI: 10.3390/ani13152530] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoon with a complex life cycle and the second most important foodborne pathogen in Europe. Surveillance of toxoplasmosis is based on national considerations since there are no mandatory controls along the food chain in the European Union, and underreporting of meat is still a problem in many countries like Greece. The current review provides an overview of T. gondii prevalence, associated risk factors, and surveillance in animals in Greece, focusing on the transmission role of meat and highlighting the control measures that should be adopted by consumers. Sows, wild boars, hares, equines, and cats had lower, while sheep and goats generally had higher seroprevalence than their respective pooled European and global values. Seroprevalence in chickens was similar between Greece and Europe, while there was high variation in cattle studies, with no data regarding dairy products. Though a comprehensive meat safety assurance system is the most effective approach to control the principal biological hazards associated with meat, such as T. gondii, the prerequisite risk categorisation of farms and abattoirs based on EFSA's proposed harmonised epidemiological indicators has not materialised as yet in Greece. Therefore, comprehensive control strategies are still required to ensure food safety and safeguard public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaia Symeonidou
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (I.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Georgios Sioutas
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (I.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Thomai Lazou
- Laboratory of Hygiene of Foods of Animal Origin—Veterinary Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Athanasios I. Gelasakis
- Laboratory of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Department of Animal Science, School of Animal Biosciences, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece;
| | - Elias Papadopoulos
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (I.S.); (G.S.)
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10
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van den Berg OE, Stanoeva KR, Zonneveld R, Hoek-van Deursen D, van der Klis FR, van de Kassteele J, Franz E, Opsteegh M, Friesema IHM, Kortbeek LM. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and associated risk factors for infection in the Netherlands: third cross-sectional national study. Epidemiol Infect 2023; 151:e136. [PMID: 37503608 PMCID: PMC10540174 DOI: 10.1017/s095026882300122x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A third nationally representative serosurvey was performed to study the changes in Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) seroprevalence in the Netherlands over a 20-year time span and to identify and confirm risk factors for acquired toxoplasmosis. This cross-sectional study (conducted in 2016/2017) was designed similarly to the previous two studies (1995/1996 and 2006/2007) and included a questionnaire and serum sampling among Dutch residents. Factors associated with seropositivity for T. gondii were determined using multivariable analysis of the questionnaire-derived data. The earlier observed decrease in T. gondii seroprevalence between 1995/1996 and 2006/2007 (from 40.5% to 26.0%) did not continue into 2016/2017 (29.9%). Similarly to the previous studies, the seroprevalence increased with age and varied among regions. In all studies, higher T. gondii seropositivity was associated with increasing age, lower educational level, not living in the Southeast, and eating raw or semi-cooked pork. The incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis was estimated at 1.3/1000 (95% CI 0.9-1.8) live-born children in 2017. As the seroprevalence of T. gondii in the Netherlands did not decrease over the last decade, an increase in public health awareness is needed and prevention measures may need to be taken to achieve a further reduction in T. gondii infections in the Netherlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oda E. van den Berg
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Kamelia R. Stanoeva
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
- European Public Health Microbiology Training Programme (EUPHEM), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rens Zonneveld
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Denise Hoek-van Deursen
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Fiona R. van der Klis
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jan van de Kassteele
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Eelco Franz
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke Opsteegh
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Ingrid H. M. Friesema
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Laetitia M. Kortbeek
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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11
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Guan YB, Sun XX, Chen SL, Zhu XT, Zeng ZH, Lu HW, Feng HM, Guo Y, Jiang WG, Xiong K, Yang XR, Nam HW, Yang ZS. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among patients of a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, PR China. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286430. [PMID: 37428723 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to explore the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) among patients in Guangzhou city, South China, and to identify susceptible patient populations and analyze the causes of infection differences. METHODS From May 2020 to May 2022, a total of 637 sera were collected from patients, and 205 sera were collected from health participants as health control. All sera were examined by colloidal gold kits to detect the positivity of antibodies against T. gondii. And the positivity of antibodies in sera was confirmed with ARCHITECT i2000SR system. RESULTS The prevalence of T. gondii infection in patients was 7.06% (45/637), which was lower than the prevalence in health participants 4.88% (10/205). Among patients, 34 (5.34%) were positive only for IgG, 10 (1.57%) were only for IgM, and 1 (0.16%) was positive for both IgG and IgM. There was a significant difference in prevalence between male and female patients, but not among different age groups or diseases groups. The prevalence of T. gondii infection in diseases groups varied. The prevalence was relatively high in patients with the disorders of thyroid gland and the malignant neoplasms of digestive organs, which suggests that caution should be taken to avoid T. gondii infection in these patients. Surprisingly, the prevalence was quite low in diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBC) patients. This may be due to the overexpression of TNF-α in tumor tissues of DLBC patients and the higher protein level of TNF-α in sera of DLBC patients. CONCLUSION This study provides a systematic exploration of the prevalence of T. gondii infection in patients in a tertiary hospital. Our data contributes to a better understanding of the epidemic investigation of T. gondii among patients in South China, which can help the prevention and treatment of the disease caused by T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Bin Guan
- The First Affiliated Hospital/School of Clinical Medicine of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Xiao Sun
- The First Affiliated Hospital/School of Clinical Medicine of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Shao-Lian Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital/School of Clinical Medicine of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Ting Zhu
- The First Affiliated Hospital/School of Clinical Medicine of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Hua Zeng
- The First Affiliated Hospital/School of Clinical Medicine of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Han-Wei Lu
- The First Affiliated Hospital/School of Clinical Medicine of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Hong-Mei Feng
- The First Affiliated Hospital/School of Clinical Medicine of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Yu Guo
- The First Affiliated Hospital/School of Clinical Medicine of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Gong Jiang
- The First Affiliated Hospital/School of Clinical Medicine of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Kui Xiong
- The First Affiliated Hospital/School of Clinical Medicine of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Rong Yang
- The First Affiliated Hospital/School of Clinical Medicine of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Ho-Woo Nam
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Zhao-Shou Yang
- The First Affiliated Hospital/School of Clinical Medicine of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
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12
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Kuruca L, Belluco S, Vieira-Pinto M, Antic D, Blagojevic B. Current control options and a way towards risk-based control of Toxoplasma gondii in the meat chain. Food Control 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2022.109556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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13
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Nessim J, Luna-Ramirez JC, Moreno-Gómez GA, Galvis-Soto DM, Gomez-Marin JE. Estimations of the number people with mental diseases associated with toxoplasmosis and identification of risk factors by continent. Psychiatry Res 2023; 323:115130. [PMID: 36913872 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
Strong evidence exists based on metanalysis of the relationship between toxoplasmosis and many psychiatric diseases: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and suicidal behavior. Herein, we estimate the number of cases based on the attributable fraction due to toxoplasmosis on these diseases. The population attributable fraction of mental disease associated with toxoplasmosis was 20,4% for schizophrenia; 27,3% for bipolar disorder; and 0,29% for suicidal behavior (self-harm). The lower and upper estimated number of people with mental disease associated with toxoplasmosis was 4'816.491 and 5'564.407 for schizophrenia; 6'348.946 and 7'510.118,82 for bipolar disorder; and 24.310 and 28.151 for self-harm; for a global total lower estimated number of 11'189.748 and global total upper estimated number of 13'102.678 people with mental disease associated with toxoplasmosis for the year 2019. According to the prediction through the Bayesian model of risk factors for toxoplasmosis associated with mental disease, these varied in importance geographically; thus, in Africa, the most important risk factor was water contamination and in the European region, the cooking conditions of meats. Toxoplasmosis and mental health should be a research priority given the enormous potential impact of reducing this parasite in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Nessim
- Molecular Parasitology Group (GEPAMOL, for the term in Spanish), Biomedical Research Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Colombia
| | | | | | | | - Jorge E Gomez-Marin
- Molecular Parasitology Group (GEPAMOL, for the term in Spanish), Biomedical Research Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Colombia.
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14
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Qamar W, Alsayeqh AF. A review of foodborne Toxoplasma gondii with a special focus on its prevalence in Pakistan from 2000 to 2022. Front Vet Sci 2023; 9:1080139. [PMID: 36744224 PMCID: PMC9890071 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1080139] [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: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Third-world countries have a higher prevalence of food-related disorders than developed nations. Millions of people in underdeveloped countries are seriously at risk from the potential water supply contamination with protozoan diseases. Toxoplasma gondii is one of the important protozoans causing diseases in livestock and humans. Despite the standard tests for diagnosing this parasite and different treatment methods, the spread of these parasites is uncontrollable and rising every year due to other management disorders. In this review, we summarize etiopathogenesis and prevalence in Pakistan. We looked for papers reporting the seroprevalence of T. gondii in people and animals between 2000 and 2022 in different databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science. Data on the seroprevalence of T. gondii in Pakistan's domestic animals (sheep and goats, horses, donkeys, mules, cattle, and buffaloes), domestic pets (cats and dogs), poultry and rodents, and humans were gathered. According to the findings, sheep had an estimated pooled seroprevalence of T. gondii that varied from 11.20 to 26.50 %, and goats from 24.50 to 38.40%. Whereas in buffalo the opposite trend was followed, and the prevalence was observed is 0% in 2022, in horses, donkeys, and mules, only one study was reported according to which a high prevalence was observed in mules (28.60%) followed by donkeys (23.50%) and horses (23.50%), in cats 38.5% prevalence was observed in a recent study and in dogs 28.43% observed, and in humans from 22 to 60%. Human beings are found to be the most affected species showing high prevalence among all. According to our findings, animals and pets not only serve as a reservoir for the parasite but also serve as a direct route for human infection with T. gondii. The diagnostic techniques used in the observed studies were mostly serological testing whereas only a few studies have only been observed with molecular testing. To know the exact pattern of the disease for its control, the trend of molecular and advanced testing should be adopted as it is more reliable. Moreover, to decrease the transmission chances of T. gondii to humans, it is crucial to manage T. gondii infections in non-human species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warda Qamar
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Abdullah F. Alsayeqh
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia,*Correspondence: Abdullah F. Alsayeqh ✉
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15
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Nsiangani Lusambo N, Kaimbo Wa Kaimbo D, Mumba Ngoyi D, Akilimali Zalagile P, de-la-Torre A. Risk factors for ocular toxoplasmosis among uveitis patients in Kinshasa, DR Congo. BMJ Open Ophthalmol 2023. [DOI: 10.1136/bmjophth-2022-001198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveTo identify the risk factors associated with ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) in a cohort of Congolese patients with uveitis.Methods and analysisA cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2020 and July 2021 in two ophthalmic clinics in Kinshasa. Patients with a diagnosis of uveitis were enrolled in the study. Each patient underwent an interview, an ophthalmological examination and serology testing. Logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors for OT.Results212 patients were included in the study with a mean age at presentation of 42.1±15.9 years (limits: 8–74 years) and a sex ratio of 1.1:1. OT concerned 96 patients (45.3%). The age of the patients below 60 years (p=0.001, OR=9.75 CI 95% 2.51 to37.80)), the consumption of cat meat (p=0.01, OR=2.65 CI 95% 1.18 to 5.96)) and undercooked meat (p=0.044, OR=2.30 CI 95% 1.02 to 5.21)) and living in rural area (p=0.021, OR=11.4 (CI 95% 1.45 to 89.84])) were identified as risk factors for OT.ConclusionOT affects more young people. It is associated with dietary habits. Informing and educating the population is necessary to avoid infection.
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Cárdenas Sierra DM, Domínguez Julio GC, Blanco Oliveros MX, Soto JA, Tórres Morales E. Seroprevalencia y factores de riesgo asociados a toxoplasmosis gestacional en el Nororiente Colombiano. REVISTA CUIDARTE 2022. [DOI: 10.15649/cuidarte.2287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Highlights:
La toxoplasmosis gestacional podría constituir una grave problemática en ascenso en la población atendida en zona fronteriza nororiental de Colombia.
La incrementada reactividad IgM específica a T.gondii en mujeres gestantes representa una alarma para la generación de estrategias de impacto en la prevención de esta problemática, como población priorizada.
La seronegatividad frente a T.gondii, aún predominante en población gestante evaluada en región nororiental de Colombia, constituye un factor de riesgo relevante de toxoplasmosis gestacional, reflejado en alta susceptibilidad.
La considerable exposición a factores de riesgo de toxoplasmosis en el embarazo implica una clara oportunidad de mejora de la calidad del control prenatal, mediante atención integral.
Introducción:La toxoplasmosis es una zoonosis prevalente en un tercio de la población mundial, que afecta negativamente la salud materno-fetal causando daños de grado variable al feto. Objetivo: Se propuso evaluar el estado serológico IgG e IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii y factores de riesgo relacionados, en mujeres gestantes de primer trimestre en Cúcuta, Colombia, en el año 2018. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal y correlacional en 111 mujeres participando voluntariamente, a quienes se testeó para IgM e IgG específicas por inmunoensayo LIA. Resultados: Se halló 19,8% y 35,1% de seropositividad total para IgM e IgG, respectivamente, 11,7% lo fue únicamente para IgM y 53,2% corresponde a la frecuencia de seronegatividad global para T.gondii; Se identificaron factores de riesgo (IC=95%) como consumo de carne mal cocida (54,1% de los casos, OR=1,8, p=0,120), de agua del grifo (48,6%, OR=1,4, p=0,421), de leche cruda de cabra o de vaca (39,6%, OR=0,78, p=0,553), además de convivencia con gatos (23,4%), éste último asociado significativamente a seropositividad al parásito (OR=2,8, p=0,025). Discusión y Conclusiones: Nuestros hallazgos revelan un posible riesgo de primo-infección en más de la mitad de la población gestante dada su seronegatividad frente al parásito, pero también una frecuencia considerable de casos con sospecha de infección muy reciente, lo que además de asociarse a un factor de riesgo previamente reconocido, deja entrever otros aspectos de riesgo en torno a la alimentación que deben impactarse mediante estrategias de prevención durante el control prenatal, sugiriendo la necesidad de fortalecer la vigilancia en torno al evento.
Como citar este artículo: Cárdenas Sierra Denny Miley, Domínguez Julio Camila, Blanco Oliveros María Ximena, Soto Javier Andrés, Tórres Morales Elizabeth. Seroprevalencia y factores de riesgo asociados a toxoplasmosis gestacional en el Nororiente Colombiano. Revista Cuidarte. 2023;14(1):e2287. http://dx.doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.2287
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Barakat AM, Fadaly HAME, Gareh A, Abd El-Razik KA, Ali FAZ, Saleh AA, Sadek SAS, Dahran N, El-Gendy AENG, El-Khadragy MF, Elmahallawy EK. Wheat Germ Oil and Propolis Decrease Parasite Burden and Restore Marked Histopathological Changes in Liver and Lung in Mice with Chronic Toxoplasmosis. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12223069. [PMID: 36428297 PMCID: PMC9686545 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223069] [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: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution. Its effects can be critical in immunocompromised patients. However, there is a limited availability of effective, low-toxicity drugs against this disease, particularly in its chronic form. The present study evaluated the effect of propolis and wheat germ oil (WGO) as safe, natural products to reduce Toxoplasma cysts in experimentally infected mice. For the experiment, five groups (10 mice per group) were examined: Group 1: negative control (noninfected, nontreated); Group 2: positive control (infected, nontreated); Group 3: infected and treated with WGO at a dose of 0.2 mg/1.5 mL per kg body weight/day; Group 4: infected and treated with 0.1 mL propolis extract/day; and Group 5: infected and treated with a combination of WGO and propolis at the same doses as Group 3 and 4. After the mice were sacrificed, liver and lung specimens underwent histopathological examination, and the parasite burden was investigated by parasitological methods and quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Notably, the results showed a substantial decrease in parasitic burden in Group 5 compared to the control group. These results were further confirmed by molecular analysis and quantification of the DNA concentration of the Toxoplasma P29 gene after treatment in all tested samples. Furthermore, the combination of propolis and WGO restored all histopathological changes in the liver and lungs. Taken together, these findings provide remarkably promising evidence of the effects of the combination of WGO and propolis against chronic toxoplasmosis in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashraf Mohamed Barakat
- Department of Zoonotic Diseases, National Research Centre, El Buhouth St., Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | | | - Ahmed Gareh
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aswan University, Aswan 24101, Egypt
| | - Khaled A. Abd El-Razik
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Fatma Abo Zakaib Ali
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt
| | - Amira A. Saleh
- Department of Human Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | - Sabry A. S. Sadek
- Department of Zoonotic Diseases, National Research Centre, El Buhouth St., Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Naief Dahran
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21959, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abd El-Nasser G. El-Gendy
- Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Department, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Manal F. El-Khadragy
- Department of biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ehab Kotb Elmahallawy
- Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt
- Correspondence:
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Thomas M, Aubert D, Escotte-Binet S, Durand B, Robert C, Geers R, Alliot A, Belbis G, Villena I, Blaga R. Anatomical distribution of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally and experimentally infected lambs. Parasite 2022; 29:3. [PMID: 35103589 PMCID: PMC8805606 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2022001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Consumption of raw or undercooked meat containing Toxoplasma gondii tissue cysts is one of the main sources of infection for humans worldwide. Among the various species intended for human consumption, sheep appear to be a high risk for human infection. The present study focused on the detailed anatomical distribution of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally and experimentally infected lambs using fresh and frozen samples of various pieces of meat, from a public health perspective. The first objective was to rank the edible parts intended for human consumption according to the detectable parasite burden by real-time PCR targeting the 529-bp repeated element. The second objective was to evaluate the impact of freezing by comparing the detection efficiency of the quantitative PCR between fresh and frozen tissues, as imports of lamb carcasses/cuts may arrive frozen or chilled. The highest estimated parasite loads were observed in skeletal muscles, and more particularly in edible portions such as quadriceps femoris muscle, intercostal muscles, deltoid muscle and diaphragm, with a significant difference in detectable parasite burden between fresh and frozen samples (p < 0.0001) or natural and experimental infection (p < 0.0001). Thoracic and pelvic limbs (3278-1048 parasites/g muscle) were ranked at the top of the list. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in all the edible parts of lamb studied. These results suggest that lamb meat represents a risk for consumers. Further investigations are needed in order to confirm these differences in larger numbers of animals and in different breeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Thomas
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), INRAE, École Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory 14 rue Pierre et Marie Curie Maisons-Alfort 94700 France
| | - Dominique Aubert
- National Reference Centre on Toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma Biological Reference Centre, CHU Reims and EA7510, SFR CAP-Santé, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne USC EpiToxo Anses Reims 51095 France
| | - Sandie Escotte-Binet
- National Reference Centre on Toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma Biological Reference Centre, CHU Reims and EA7510, SFR CAP-Santé, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne USC EpiToxo Anses Reims 51095 France
| | - Benoît Durand
- Epidemiology Unit, Animal Health Laboratory, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), University Paris-Est 14 rue Pierre et Marie Curie Maisons-Alfort 94700 France
| | - Céline Robert
- École Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort 7 avenue du Général de Gaulle Maisons-Alfort 94700 France
| | - Régine Geers
- National Reference Centre on Toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma Biological Reference Centre, CHU Reims and EA7510, SFR CAP-Santé, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne USC EpiToxo Anses Reims 51095 France
| | - Annie Alliot
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), INRAE, École Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory 14 rue Pierre et Marie Curie Maisons-Alfort 94700 France
| | - Guillaume Belbis
- École Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort 7 avenue du Général de Gaulle Maisons-Alfort 94700 France
| | - Isabelle Villena
- National Reference Centre on Toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma Biological Reference Centre, CHU Reims and EA7510, SFR CAP-Santé, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne USC EpiToxo Anses Reims 51095 France
| | - Radu Blaga
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), INRAE, École Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory 14 rue Pierre et Marie Curie Maisons-Alfort 94700 France,Corresponding author:
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Toxoplasma gondii Infections in Animals and Humans in Southern Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11020183. [PMID: 35215126 PMCID: PMC8880191 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11020183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite with zoonotic importance worldwide especially in pregnant women and immunocompromised people. This study is set to review the literature on T. gondii infections in humans and animals in southern Africa. Methods: We extracted data regarding T. gondii infections from published articles from southern Africa from 1955 to 2020 from four databases, namely Google Scholar, PubMed, EBSCO Host, and Science Direct. Forty articles from eight southern African countries were found eligible for the study. Results: This review revealed a paucity of information on T. gondii infection in southern African countries, with an overall prevalence of 17% (95% CI: 7–29%). Domestic felids had a prevalence of 29% (95% CI: 7–54%), wild felids 79% (95% CI: 60–94), canids (domestic and wild) 69% (95% CI: 38–96%), cattle 20% (95% CI: 5–39%), pigs 13% (95% CI: 1–29%), small ruminants (goats and sheep) 11% (95% CI: 0–31%), chicken and birds 22% (95% CI: 0–84%), and humans 14% (95% CI: 5–25%). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) constituted the most frequently used diagnostic tests for T. gondii. Conclusions: We recommend more focused studies be conducted on the epidemiology of T. gondii in the environment, food animals and human population, most especially the at-risk populations.
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Inpankaew T, Thi Thuy N, Nimsuphan B, Kengradomkij C, Kamyingkird K, Chimnoi W, Boonaue B, Xuan X. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection from water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in northeastern and southern Thailand. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2021; 68. [PMID: 34994346 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2021.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease resulting from infection with the apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908), one of the world's most common parasites in warm-blooded animals, including humans. Sources of infection can be exposed to infected cat faeces, mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, and notably, the consumption of undercooked contaminated meat of intermediate hosts. In Thailand, water buffaloes are highly valued for rice cultivation, traditional culture and meat production. Like several other mammalian species, these animals play a role as reservoirs of T. gondii, thus representing a threat to human health. The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in swamp buffaloes was examined in southern and northeastern Thailand. In total, serum samples of 721 water buffaloes were collected from seven provinces (Ubon Ratchathani, Roi Et, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Buri Ram, Sakon Nakhon, and Songkhla) and examined for the presence of T. gondii infection using commercial latex agglutination test kits (TOXOCHECK-MT, Eiken Chemical Co., Tokyo, Japan). Of the 721 animals analysed, 49 (6.8%) were positive for T. gondii. Songkhla province had the highest seroprevalence (14.7%) among the seven provinces covered in this survey. There was a potential risk to local citizens of T. gondii infection identified by the present study, notably in northeastern Thailand, where despite lower seroprevalence consuming raw buffalo meat salad should be restricted to avoid the risk of zoonotic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tawin Inpankaew
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nguyen Thi Thuy
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, Hue City, Vietnam
| | - Burin Nimsuphan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chanya Kengradomkij
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Ketsarin Kamyingkird
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wissanuwat Chimnoi
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Boy Boonaue
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
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Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic protist infecting a wide group of warm-blooded animals, ranging from birds to humans. While this infection is usually asymptomatic in healthy individuals, it can also lead to severe ocular or neurological outcomes in immunocompromised individuals or in developing fetuses. This obligate intracellular parasite has the ability to infect a considerable range of nucleated cells and can propagate in the intermediate host. Yet, under the pressure of the immune system it transforms into an encysted persistent form residing primarily in the brain and muscle tissues. Encysted parasites, which are resistant to current medication, may reactivate and give rise to an acute infection. The clinical outcome of toxoplasmosis depends on a complex balance between the host immune response and parasite virulence factors. Susceptibility to the disease is thus determined by both parasite strains and host species. Recent advances on our understanding of host cell-parasite interactions and parasite virulence have brought new insights into the pathophysiology of T. gondii infection and are summarized here.
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22
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Silva SS, Batista SP, Sarmento WF, da Silva RF, Sousa LN, Bezerra RA, Oliveira CSM, Brasil AWL, Feitosa TF, Vilela VLR. Seroprevalence and isolation of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep intended for human consumption in Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:3925-3931. [PMID: 34611722 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07336-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite capable of infecting almost all warm-blooded animals. Currently, studies assessing the viability of cysts present in sheep meat are still scarce, especially in the northeastern region of Brazil. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies, isolate the parasite from tissue samples, and determine factors associated with infection of sheep intended for human consumption in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Serum samples from 205 sheep slaughtered in Paraíba were tested using the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT ≥ 64) for the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies. Among the animals sampled, 30.7% (63/205) were seropositive, with antibody titers ranging from 1:64 to 1:16384. Sixty-one bioassays were performed in mice, and an isolation rate of 47.5% (29/61) was obtained. The infection was lethal to at least one infected mouse in 24.1% (7/29) of the bioassays. The mean length of survival of infected mice was 36.4 days. Females (OR = 3.183; CI = [1.452-6.976]), extensive breeding system (OR = 2.612; CI = [1.120-6.094]), and purebred animals (OR = 2.157; CI = [1.009-4.612]) were considered to be factors associated with infection. These results revealed that the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies and the percentage of viable cysts recovered from sheep destined for human consumption in Paraíba, northeastern Brazil, were high.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samara Santos Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science, Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), Patos, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Samira Pereira Batista
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science, Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), Patos, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Wlysse Ferreira Sarmento
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal Institute of Paraíba (IFPB), Avenida Presidente Tancredo Neves, s/n, Jardim Sorrilândia, Sousa, Paraíba, ZC 58800-970, Brazil
| | - Rômulo Fylipe da Silva
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal Institute of Paraíba (IFPB), Avenida Presidente Tancredo Neves, s/n, Jardim Sorrilândia, Sousa, Paraíba, ZC 58800-970, Brazil
| | - Larissa Nascimento Sousa
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science, Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), Patos, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Roberto Alves Bezerra
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science, Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), Patos, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Clarisse Silva Menezes Oliveira
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal Institute of Paraíba (IFPB), Avenida Presidente Tancredo Neves, s/n, Jardim Sorrilândia, Sousa, Paraíba, ZC 58800-970, Brazil
| | | | - Thais Ferreira Feitosa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal Institute of Paraíba (IFPB), Avenida Presidente Tancredo Neves, s/n, Jardim Sorrilândia, Sousa, Paraíba, ZC 58800-970, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Longo Ribeiro Vilela
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science, Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), Patos, Paraíba, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal Institute of Paraíba (IFPB), Avenida Presidente Tancredo Neves, s/n, Jardim Sorrilândia, Sousa, Paraíba, ZC 58800-970, Brazil.
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Zhou S, Sang Z, Wang L, Zhang T. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in cats in mainland China 2016-2020: a meta-analysis. J Vet Sci 2021; 23:e13. [PMID: 34931504 PMCID: PMC8799937 DOI: 10.4142/jvs.21209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii can infect humans and most animals and has a very high infection rate worldwide, including in China. The number of people infected with T. gondii in China increases with the number of cats. OBJECTIVES We investigated the seropositive rate of T. gondii in cats over the last five years and analyzed the risk factors via meta-analysis. METHODS We retrieved 20 studies, with a total of 5,158 cats, published between 2016 and 2020, used the DerSimonian-Laird model and calculated seroprevalence estimates with the variance stabilizing double arcsine transformation. RESULTS The overall seroprevalence rate after sinusoidal conversion was 19.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 15.9-23.9; 966/5,158), lower than the domestic report from 1995 to 2015 (24.5%, 95% CI, 20.1-29.0). There was substantial heterogeneity among studies (χ² = 262.32; p < 0.001; I² = 64.6%). Regression analysis of possible heterogeneous causes and subgroup analysis showed that age and whether cats were stray or not have a significant effect on the seropositive rate. CONCLUSIONS Articles published in recent five years suggest that the seroprevalence estimates of Toxoplasma gondii in cats has decreased. Cats, as the final host of T. gondii, are an important cause of the spread of the parasite, and this is an important concern for public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Zhou
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Ziyin Sang
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Lijun Wang
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Tangjie Zhang
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.
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Papatsiros VG, Athanasiou LV, Kostoulas P, Giannakopoulos A, Tzika E, Billinis C. Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Swine: Implications for Public Health. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2021; 18:823-840. [PMID: 34491108 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2021.0039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, due to Toxoplasma gondii, is a parasitic disease with global importance. Among livestock, chronic T. gondii infection has been reported in higher rates in pigs and small ruminants, but with subclinical infections in case commonly encountered in pigs. Seroprevalence in the global pig population ranges according to the age or species of pigs, geographical distribution, production programs, and systems. Generally, T. gondii infections are noticed in low prevalence rates in conventional pig farms with high hygiene standards. In contrast, higher prevalence is common on free-ranging farms, outdoor or backyard small pig fams, as well as in farmed or hunted wild boars. The T. gondii average worldwide seroprevalence in pigs is reported to be 13% in Europe, 21% in Africa, 25% in North America, 21% in Asia, and 23% in South America. Human toxoplasmosis outbreaks have been correlated with the consumption of raw or undercooked meat, especially from infected pigs or wild boars, as well as of contaminated drinking water. The risk of infection in processed pork products is lower compared with fresh pork, as meat processing can reduce or inactivate T. gondii tissue cysts. Hence, the prevalence of T. gondii in the pig population may be a useful indicator of the risk of human toxoplasmosis associated with the consumption of pork products. The lack of obligatory screening methods at farm level for the detection of antibodies in farmed animals or the viable T. gondii in carcasses at slaughterhouse level increases the risk of contaminated pork or meat products. For this reason, the application of biosecurity and surveillance programs at farm level is very important to prevent a T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios G Papatsiros
- Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - Labrini V Athanasiou
- Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - Polychronis Kostoulas
- Laboratory of Epidemiology & Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Public Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - Alexios Giannakopoulos
- Department of Microbiology & Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - Eleni Tzika
- Farm Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Charalambos Billinis
- Department of Microbiology & Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
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25
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Silva BM, Queiroz WCC, Maia MO, Pacheco RDC, Aguiar DM, Campos MS, Bresciani KDS, Costa AJ, Gomes AAD, Santos-Doni TR. Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii in cattle from Unai, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2021; 25:100610. [PMID: 34474803 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread protozoan parasite that causes infections in animals and humans. The presence of tissue cysts in cattle musculature evidences their epidemiological significance in transmission to humans. The present study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of and risk factors of T. gondii seropositivity in beef cattle in the municipality of Unaí, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Bovine blood samples (n = 612) were collected from 31 herds. Risk factors associated with the animal-level and herd-level seroprevalence were analysed using a questionnaire that investigates the epidemiological aspects of toxoplasmosis. A search for anti-T. gondii antibodies was performed by means of an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Analysis of 612 samples showed 369 animals positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies (IFAT ≥64), with a seroprevalence of 60.29% (95% confidence interval (CI): 56.35-64.10). The herd-level seroprevalence was 96.77% (95% CI: 79.00-99.58). Applying a multivariate logistic regression analysis, a test of the association between seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and the potential predictors showed that cats (domestic or wild) with access to the drinking water of cattle were a significant (P = 0.001) predictor. The seroprevalence of T. gondii in cattle destined for human consumption is widely distributed throughout the entire study area. Thus, integrated control measures and strategies are suggested to prevent T. gondii infection in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Montijo Silva
- Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM), Avenida Universitários, 1000 Unaí, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Maerle Oliveira Maia
- Program in Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso, 78060-900 Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Richard de Campos Pacheco
- Program in Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso, 78060-900 Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Daniel Moura Aguiar
- Program in Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso, 78060-900 Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Maíza Souza Campos
- Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM), Avenida Universitários, 1000 Unaí, MG, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Thais Rabelo Santos-Doni
- Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM), Avenida Universitários, 1000 Unaí, MG, Brazil.
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Maia MO, de Almeida SLH, Schmidt AC, de Oliveira ACS, de Aguiar DM, Dos Santos-Doni TR, de Campos Pacheco R. High prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in beef cattle in Midwestern Brazil. Vet Res Commun 2021; 45:399-407. [PMID: 34415505 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-021-09820-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA-IgG) in 3,814 cows aged ≥ 24 months belonging to 353 beef farms in the Mato Grosso state. Additionally, we aimed to identify the possible risk factors associated with seropositivity in Mato Grosso, which encompasses three biomes (Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal) of Brazil. Analysis of 3,814 samples observed that 1,307 animals were positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies (IFA-IgG ≥ 64), with an animal-level seroprevalence of 34.27%. Herd-level seroprevalence was 92.07%. In the animal-level model, cows raised in the Amazon and Pantanal biomes and breed studies on European and Zebu or hybrid were found to be at risk for T. gondii seropositivity. Prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in cows destined for human consumption was found to be widely distributed throughout the entire study area. Further studies are required to assess the impact of beef in the possible transmission of toxoplasmosis to humans residing in the region and establish additional control measures for this protozoan mainly on beef herds raised in the Amazon and Pantanal biomes, where the highest values of seroprevalence were observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maerle Oliveira Maia
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Veterinárias, PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Sayanne Luns Hatum de Almeida
- Programa de Residência Uniprofissional Em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Schmidt
- Instituto de Defesa Agropecuária Do Estado de Mato Grosso, INDEA-MT, Cuiabá, MT, 78050-900, Brazil
| | - Anderson Castro Soares de Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Veterinárias, PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Daniel Moura de Aguiar
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Veterinárias, PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Thaís Rabelo Dos Santos-Doni
- Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal Dos Vales Do Jequitinhonha E Mucuri, UFVJM, Unaí, MG, 38600-000, Brazil.
| | - Richard de Campos Pacheco
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Veterinárias, PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, 78060-900, Brazil
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Stollberg KC, Schares G, Mayer-Scholl A, Hrushetska I, Diescher S, Johne A, Richter MH, Bier NS. Comparison of Direct and Indirect Toxoplasma gondii Detection and Genotyping in Game: Relationship and Challenges. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9081663. [PMID: 34442742 PMCID: PMC8399173 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of game as a source of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in humans is largely unknown. New data on the presence of T. gondii in game hunted in the Federal State of Brandenburg, Germany, were obtained by direct and indirect detection (ELISA). DNA extracted either directly (5 g heart or foreleg muscle, DE) or after acid pepsin digestion (50 g heart, PD) or enriched by magnetic capture (50 g heart, MC) was examined by real-time PCR (qPCR). ELISA revealed seroprevalences of 20% in wild boar (Sus scrofa), 11% in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and 6% in red deer (Cervus elaphus). T. gondii DNA was detected by at least one direct detection method in 12% of wild boar, 6% of roe deer, 2% of fallow deer (Dama dama) and 2% of red deer. In both, positive wild boar and roe deer, T. gondii type II specific alleles were the most prevalent, as assessed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The highest proportion of positive animals was detected by MC qPCR, followed by PD qPCR with a similar proportion of positive findings. Investigation of 50 g of heart muscle revealed a significantly higher proportion of positive qPCR results than analysis of 5 g (p = 0.048). An association between seropositivity and direct detection was evident in wild boar and roe deer (p < 0.001). Infectivity of T. gondii DNA–positive samples was confirmed by bioassay (4/4), providing evidence that game could represent a relevant source of viable T. gondii posing a risk for human infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaya C. Stollberg
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Safety in the Food Chain, 10589 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Gereon Schares
- National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany;
| | - Anne Mayer-Scholl
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Biological Safety, 12277 Berlin, Germany; (A.M.-S.); (I.H.); (S.D.); (A.J.); (M.H.R.)
| | - Iryna Hrushetska
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Biological Safety, 12277 Berlin, Germany; (A.M.-S.); (I.H.); (S.D.); (A.J.); (M.H.R.)
| | - Susanne Diescher
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Biological Safety, 12277 Berlin, Germany; (A.M.-S.); (I.H.); (S.D.); (A.J.); (M.H.R.)
| | - Annette Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Biological Safety, 12277 Berlin, Germany; (A.M.-S.); (I.H.); (S.D.); (A.J.); (M.H.R.)
| | - Martin H. Richter
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Biological Safety, 12277 Berlin, Germany; (A.M.-S.); (I.H.); (S.D.); (A.J.); (M.H.R.)
| | - Nadja S. Bier
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Biological Safety, 12277 Berlin, Germany; (A.M.-S.); (I.H.); (S.D.); (A.J.); (M.H.R.)
- Correspondence:
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The Probable Association between Chronic Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case-Control Study. Interdiscip Perspect Infect Dis 2021; 2021:2508780. [PMID: 34122541 PMCID: PMC8169249 DOI: 10.1155/2021/2508780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The probable association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection and diabetes mellitus (DM) is still controversial, and there are several studies with conflicting results. Thus, this study was performed to assess the possible association between chronic T. gondii infection and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and T2DM. Methods In this case-control study, a total of 105 diabetic subjects including 36 patients with T1DM and 69 patients with T2DM were recruited. In addition, 150 nondiabetic subjects were enrolled as controls. Each case group had its own control group. Each participant completed a structured questionnaire obtaining demographic information. Serum samples were examined for T. gondii-specific IgG antibody using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results Analysis revealed that 69.4% and 34.0% of patients with T1DM and control subjects were serologically positive for T. gondii, respectively (odds ratio (OR): 4.41; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.75–11.06; P=0.001). Moreover, 72.5% of T2DM patients and 29.0% of healthy individuals were seropositive for T. gondii (OR: 6.44; 95% CI: 3.25–12.74; P < 0.001). Among risk factors, only contact with cats was significantly associated with IgG seroprevalence in both T2DM patients (P < 0.001) and control subjects (P=0.045). Conclusion Although the results showed that chronic T. gondii infection is significantly associated with T1DM and T2DM, there remain many questions regarding the exact mechanisms of T. gondii in the pathogenesis of DM.
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Meat Safety from Farm to Slaughter—Risk-Based Control of Yersinia enterocolitica and Toxoplasma gondii. Processes (Basel) 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/pr9050815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The implementation of the traditional meat safety control system has significantly contributed to increasing food safety and public health protection. However, several biological hazards have emerged in meat production, requiring a comprehensive approach to their control, as traditional methods of meat inspection at the slaughterhouse are not able to detect them. While national control programs exist for the most important meat-related hazards, similar data are still lacking for certain neglected threats, such as Yersinia enterocolitica or Toxoplasma gondii. The obstacle in controlling these hazards in the meat chain is their presence in latently infected, asymptomatic animals. Their effective control can only be achieved through systematic preventive measures, surveillance or monitoring, and antimicrobial interventions on farms and in slaughterhouses. To establish such a system, it is important to collect all relevant data on hazard-related epidemiological indicators from the meat chain, which should provide relevant guidance for interventions at the harvest and post-harvest stage. The proposed approach is expected to improve the existing system and provide many opportunities to improve food safety and public health.
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Gómez-Marín JE, Muñoz-Ortiz J, Mejía-Oquendo M, Arteaga-Rivera JY, Rivera-Valdivia N, Bohórquez-Granados MC, Velasco-Velásquez S, Castaño-de-la-Torre G, Acosta-Dávila JA, García-López LL, Torres-Morales E, Vargas M, Valencia JD, Celis-Giraldo D, de-la-Torre A. High frequency of ocular toxoplasmosis in Quindío, Colombia and risk factors related to the infection. Heliyon 2021; 7:e06659. [PMID: 33898813 PMCID: PMC8056222 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the frequency of retinochoroidal lesions by ocular toxoplasmosis and their relationships with risk factors, in residents of two districts with high exposure to Toxoplasma, in Armenia-Quindío, Colombia. METHODS Cross-sectional analyses of fundoscopy screening, serological tests, and questionnaires were performed to determine risk factors associated with ocular toxoplasmosis retinochoroidal lesions. Differences in proportions were analyzed using the chi-squared test. RESULTS Of 161 individuals examined, 17 (10.5%) exhibited retinochoroidal scars suggestive of old inactive Toxoplasma gondii infection. All 17 individuals were seropositive for T. gondii antibodies. Consumption of bottled water was protective against T. gondii infection among individuals in this study. There were no specific epidemiological risk factors associated with ocular toxoplasmosis retinochoroidal lesions. CONCLUSION Ocular toxoplasmosis is an important cause of visual impairment in Armenia-Quindío, Colombia. The consumption of boiled or bottled water is a major preventive public health measure to reduce infection by T. gondii and the subsequent onset of OT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Enrique Gómez-Marín
- Grupo GEPAMOL, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Carrera 15 #12N, Colombia
| | - Juliana Muñoz-Ortiz
- Grupo de Investigación Escuela Barraquer, Escuela Superior de Oftalmología del Instituto Barraquer de América, Bogotá, Avenida Calle 100 No. 18A - 51, Colombia
| | - Manuela Mejía-Oquendo
- Grupo GEPAMOL, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Carrera 15 #12N, Colombia
| | - José Y Arteaga-Rivera
- Grupo de Investigación Escuela Barraquer, Escuela Superior de Oftalmología del Instituto Barraquer de América, Bogotá, Avenida Calle 100 No. 18A - 51, Colombia
| | - Nicolás Rivera-Valdivia
- Grupo de Investigación Escuela Barraquer, Escuela Superior de Oftalmología del Instituto Barraquer de América, Bogotá, Avenida Calle 100 No. 18A - 51, Colombia
| | - María Cristina Bohórquez-Granados
- Grupo de Investigación Escuela Barraquer, Escuela Superior de Oftalmología del Instituto Barraquer de América, Bogotá, Avenida Calle 100 No. 18A - 51, Colombia
| | - Stefany Velasco-Velásquez
- Grupo GEPAMOL, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Carrera 15 #12N, Colombia
| | | | | | - Laura Lorena García-López
- Grupo GEPAMOL, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Carrera 15 #12N, Colombia
| | - Elizabeth Torres-Morales
- Grupo GEPAMOL, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Carrera 15 #12N, Colombia
| | - Mónica Vargas
- Grupo GEPAMOL, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Carrera 15 #12N, Colombia
| | - Juan David Valencia
- Grupo GEPAMOL, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Carrera 15 #12N, Colombia
| | - Daniel Celis-Giraldo
- Grupo GEPAMOL, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Carrera 15 #12N, Colombia
| | - Alejandra de-la-Torre
- Grupo de Investigación en Neurociencias NeURos, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Del Rosario, Bogotá, Carrera 24 #63C-69, Colombia
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Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in people with alcohol consumption in Durango, Mexico. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245701. [PMID: 33507955 PMCID: PMC7842906 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The seroepidemiology of infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in alcohol consumers is largely undeveloped. In light of this, we sought to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in alcohol consumers in Durango, Mexico, and the association of T. gondii seroprevalence with characteristics of the population studied. Anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were searched in sera of participants using commercially available enzyme immunoassays. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were then used to determine the association between T. gondii infection and the characteristics of the population studied. Of the 1544 people studied (mean age: 39.4±14.0 years), 173 (11.2%) tested positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies. We were able to test 167 of the 173 anti-T. gondii IgG positive sera for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. Fifty-five (32.9%) of these 167 serum samples were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. Bivariate analysis showed that visual impairment, history of surgery, and hepatitis were negatively associated with T. gondii IgG seropositivity (P<0.05). In women, seropositivity to T. gondii was positively associated with a history of pregnancy (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with the variables consumption of armadillo meat (OR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.04–5.22; P = 0.03), and the use of latrines for elimination of excretes (OR = 2.27; 95% CI: 1.07–4.80; P = 0.03); and high (>150 IU/ml) anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were associated with consumption of both armadillo meat (OR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.01–5.02; P = 0.04) and crowding at home (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.02–2.61; P = 0.03). We found a distinct T. gondii seroprevalence in people with alcohol consumption from those previously found in population groups in the region. This is the first study that illustrates the association between high anti-T. gondii antibodies and crowding in Mexico, and the second study on the association between T. gondii infection and consumption of armadillo meat and the use of latrines in this country. We conclude that epidemiology of T. gondii infection in people with alcohol consumption deserves further investigation.
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Zhou S, Sang Z, Wang L, Zhang T. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in cats in mainland China 2016–2020: a meta-analysis. J Vet Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.4142/jvs.2021.22.e83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Zhou
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Ziyin Sang
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Lijun Wang
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Tangjie Zhang
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
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Soltani S, Kahvaz MS, Soltani S, Maghsoudi F, Foroutan M. Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients undergoing hemodialysis and healthy group. BMC Res Notes 2020; 13:551. [PMID: 33287882 PMCID: PMC7720589 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-020-05396-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives In this study, the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) specific antibodies in patients undergoing hemodialysis compared to the control group were evaluated. In this case–control study, 200 hemodialysis patients (HDP) and 100 healthy controls were participated. The specific antibodies (IgG/IgM) in both groups were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. A structured questionnaire containing some demographic information was completed for each person in case and control groups. Results The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 49.5% (99/200) and 23.0% (23/100) in the case and control groups, respectively. There was a significant association between seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and contact with cats (P < 0.001), consumption of raw/undercooked meat (P = 0.01), and source of drinking water (P = 0.001) in the hemodialysis patients. Also, in the control subjects, there were a significant association between consumption of raw/undercooked meat (P = 0.04) and source of drinking water (P = 0.001) with T. gondii infection. The findings showed a high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in HDP compared with healthy controls; thus, we recommend the regular screening programs for T. gondii infection in this susceptible group.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sheyda Soltani
- USERN Office, Abadan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran
| | | | - Masoud Foroutan
- USERN Office, Abadan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran.
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Maia MO, Maia MO, Silva ARSD, Gomes AAD, Aguiar DMD, Pacheco RDC, Costa AJD, Santos-Doni TRD. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in sheep intended for human consumption in the Rondônia state, Western Brazilian Amazon. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 74:101599. [PMID: 33260021 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to carry out a seroepidemiological study of anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies in serum samples from sheep intended for human consumption in the Rondônia state, in the Western Brazilian Amazon, and identify possible risk factors associated with seropositivity. The analysis of the 616 sheep serum samples revealed animal-level seroprevalence of T. gondii in the order of 52.4 % and of N. caninum of 60.6 %. Prevalence of co-infections was 33.4 %. The herd-level seroprevalence was 100 % for both the parasites. Applying of multivariate logistic regression analysis, test of the association between seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and the potential predictors showed that feed, fetal malformation, abortion, neurological problems (lambs), presence of rodents were the significant (P < 0.05) predictors. The variables presence of rodents, cats, wild animals and main activity showed statistical association (P < 0.05) with the seroprevalence of N. caninum. Due to the high prevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum found in this study, the absence of specific slaughterhouses for sheep and raw or undercooked sheep meat for human consumption we concluded that sheep can represent an important source of infection for humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maerle Oliveira Maia
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias (PPGVET) da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAVET) da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Daniel Moura de Aguiar
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias (PPGVET) da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAVET) da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Richard de Campos Pacheco
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias (PPGVET) da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAVET) da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | | | - Thaís Rabelo Dos Santos-Doni
- Instituto de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Unaí, MG, Brazil.
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Almeria S, Dubey JP. Foodborne transmission of Toxoplasma gondii infection in the last decade. An overview. Res Vet Sci 2020; 135:371-385. [PMID: 33148402 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease of global distribution and importance. It is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, the only species in the Toxoplasma genus. This parasite can infect most warm-blooded animals, including humans and livestock. Main routes of transmission are by ingestion of tissue cysts in raw or undercooked meat of infected animals, ingestion of raw vegetables or water contaminated with T. gondii oocysts from cat feces, and transplacental. Around one-third of human beings are chronically infected with T. gondii. Most infections appear to be asymptomatic in immunocompetent persons, but toxoplasmosis can be fatal to the fetus and immunocompromised adults. Water and foodborne outbreaks have been caused by this parasite worldwide, but few are well documented. Importantly, T. gondii is a parasite of high importance in animal health, causing reproductive failure, particularly in small ruminants, and clinical toxoplasmosis in many species. This overview discusses the knowledge of T. gondii infections in the last decade focusing on the foodborne transmission of this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Almeria
- Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Nutrition, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Division of Virulence Assessment, Laurel, MD 20708, USA.
| | - J P Dubey
- USA Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Disease Laboratory, Building 1001, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA
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Plaza J, Dámek F, Villena I, Innes EA, Katzer F, Hamilton CM. Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in retail meat samples in Scotland. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2020; 20:e00086. [PMID: 32577541 PMCID: PMC7303546 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2020.e00086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a globally important zoonotic parasite ranked as one of the most significant causes of disease burden among the major foodborne pathogens. Consumption of undercooked meat is a well-known risk factor for infection so the aim of this study was to investigate the presence of T. gondii in meat samples from retail outlets in Scotland. In Sampling Period 1, 300 meat samples (39 beef, 21 chicken, 87 lamb, 71 pork and 82 venison) were purchased from butchers', farmers' markets, farm shops and supermarkets, and in Sampling Period 2, 67 pure venison samples only were purchased from farmers' markets, farm shops and supermarkets. DNA was extracted and screened for T. gondii using a quantitative PCR targeting the 529 bp repeat element, and any positive samples were genotyped using PCR-RFLP targeting 10 markers. Meat juice was screened for T. gondii antibodies using a commercial ELISA or modified agglutination assay. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in 0/39 (0%) beef samples, 1/21 (4.8%) chicken samples, 6/87 (6.9%) lamb samples, 3/71 (4.2%) pork samples and 29/82 (35.4%; Sampling Period 1) and 19/67 (28.4%; Sampling Period 2) venison samples. Partial PCR-RFLP genotyping revealed both clonal and non-clonal genotypes. Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in the meat juice of 2/38 (5.3%) beef samples, 3/21 (14.3%) chicken samples, 14/85 (16.5%) lamb samples, 2/68 (2.9%) pork samples and 11/78 (14.1%; Sampling Period 1) and 8/50 (16%; Sampling Period 2) venison samples. This is the first study to report the presence of T. gondii in retail meat products in Scotland and has highlighted venison as a potentially high risk meat. Further work is required to determine viability of parasites in this particular meat product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Plaza
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Filip Dámek
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Isabelle Villena
- Laboratory of Parasitology, EA 7510, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne and National Reference Centre on Toxoplasmosis, Hospital University Centre of Reims, France
| | - Elisabeth A. Innes
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Frank Katzer
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Clare M. Hamilton
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
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Mulugeta S, Munshea A, Nibret E. Seroprevalence of Anti- Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. Infect Dis (Lond) 2020; 13:1178633720948872. [PMID: 32922029 PMCID: PMC7450295 DOI: 10.1177/1178633720948872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that causes a zoonotic disease called toxoplasmosis. If the infection acquired during pregnancy is not detected and treated early, the parasite can be transmitted transplacentally to the fetus, resulting in congenital toxoplasmosis, which likely leads to serious consequences in the fetus. Toxoplasmosis constitutes a major public health problem particularly in low- and middle-income countries including Ethiopia. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and to assess the potential risk factors of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods In this cross-sectional study, data on the sociodemographic and potential obstetric and behavioral risk factors were gathered through pretested structured questionnaires, and 3 mL of venous blood was also drawn from each of randomly selected 233 study subjects. The serum samples were separated from the blood samples and tested for anti-Toxoplasma antibody using Toxo-latex slide agglutination test. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between risk factors considered and T gondii infection. Results The overall prevalence of T gondii infection was 67.8%, indicating a high prevalence of toxoplasmosis in the study area. In multivariate analysis, keeping domestic cat at home was found to be the only explanatory variable of toxoplasmosis (adjusted odds ratio = 2.449, 95% confidence interval = 1.183-5.070, P = .016). All sociodemographic variables and most of the potential obstetric and behavioral risk factors were not statistically significant explanatory variables of T gondii infection. Conclusion The prevalence of toxoplasmosis is high in the study area. Thus, pregnant women should be aware of the potential risk of the disease when keeping cats at home and management of their litter. Inclusion of serologic screening for T gondii infection at antenatal care is warranted for prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senait Mulugeta
- Biology Department, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Abaineh Munshea
- Biology Department, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.,Health Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Institute, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Endalkachew Nibret
- Biology Department, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.,Health Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Institute, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
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Fernández-Escobar M, Calero-Bernal R, Benavides J, Regidor-Cerrillo J, Guerrero-Molina MC, Gutiérrez-Expósito D, Collantes-Fernández E, Ortega-Mora LM. Isolation and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in Spanish sheep flocks. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:396. [PMID: 32758283 PMCID: PMC7404076 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04275-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii is a major cause of abortion in small ruminants and presents a zoonotic risk when undercooked meat containing cysts is consumed. The aim of the present study was to investigate the genetic diversity among the T. gondii strains circulating in ovine livestock in Spain. Methods Selected samples collected from abortion outbreaks due to toxoplasmosis (n = 31) and from chronically infected adult sheep at slaughterhouses (n = 50) in different Spanish regions were bioassayed in mice, aiming at parasite isolation. In addition, all original clinical samples and the resulting isolates were genotyped by multi-nested PCR-RFLP analysis of 11 molecular markers and by PCR-DNA sequencing of portions of the SAG3, GRA6 and GRA7 genes. Results As a result, 30 isolates were obtained from 9 Spanish regions: 10 isolates from abortion-derived samples and 20 isolates from adult myocardial tissues. Overall, 3 genotypes were found: ToxoDB#3 (type II PRU variant) in 90% (27/30) of isolates, ToxoDB#2 (clonal type III) in 6.7% (2/30), and ToxoDB#1 (clonal type II) in 3.3% (1/30). When T. gondii-positive tissue samples (n = 151) were directly subjected to RFLP genotyping, complete restriction profiles were obtained for 33% of samples, and up to 98% of the specimens belonged to the type II PRU variant. A foetal brain showed a clonal type II pattern, and four specimens showed unexpected type I alleles at the SAG3 marker, including two foetal brains that showed I + II alleles as co-infection events. Amplicons of SAG3, GRA6 and GRA7 obtained from isolates and clinical samples were subjected to sequencing, allowing us to confirm RFLP results and to detect different single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Conclusions The present study informed the existence of a predominant type II PRU variant genotype (ToxoDB#3) infecting domestic sheep in Spain, in both abortion cases and chronic infections in adults, coexisting with other clonal (ToxoDB#1 and ToxoDB#2), much less frequent genotypes, as well as polymorphic strains as revealed by clinical sample genotyping. The use of multilocus sequence typing aided in accurately estimating T. gondii intragenotype diversity. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Fernández-Escobar
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Calero-Bernal
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Julio Benavides
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-ULE), 24346, León, Spain
| | - Javier Regidor-Cerrillo
- SALUVET-innova S.L, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Cristina Guerrero-Molina
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Esther Collantes-Fernández
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
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van den Brom R, de Jong A, van Engelen E, Heuvelink A, Vellema P. Zoonotic risks of pathogens from sheep and their milk borne transmission. Small Rumin Res 2020; 189:106123. [PMID: 32427176 PMCID: PMC7227596 DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2020.106123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Sheep were domesticated around 9000 BC in the Middle East, and since then milk from sheep gradually became very popular, not only for drinking but also for making cheeses and other dairy products. Nowadays, these dairy products are also important for people with an allergy to cow milk, and these products are an essential part of the local daily diet in regions of the world that are not suitable for cows and goats. Consumption of raw milk and raw milk products has a zoonotic risk, and with regard to sheep, the main pathogens associated with such dairy products are: Brucella melitensis, Campylobacter spp., Listeria spp., Salmonella spp., Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, tick borne encephalitis virus, and Toxoplasma gondii. Especially, young children, elderly people, pregnant women and immunocompromised (YOPI) persons, and those suffering from disease should be aware of the risk of consuming raw milk and raw milk products. This latter risk can be reduced by proper flock health management, prevention of contamination during milking, adequate milk processing, transport, and refrigerated storage. Only processes equaling pasteurization sufficiently reduce zoonotic risks from milk and milk products, but proper cooling is essential and recontamination must be prevented. Therefore, strict hygiene practices throughout the production process and supply chain especially for raw milk and raw dairy products, should be applied. Small scale production systems pose a greater risk compared to industrialized production systems because of a less protocolized and controlled production process. This manuscript describes zoonotic risks of pathogens from sheep and their milk borne transmission. Additionally, routes of contamination, possibilities for multiplication, and prevention measures thereof are described. We summarize some major human outbreaks caused by consumption of sheep milk and products made thereof, and finally discuss their implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- René van den Brom
- Royal GD, Department of Small Ruminant Health, Deventer, The Netherlands
| | - Aarieke de Jong
- Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, Office for Risk Assessment and Research (NVWA-BuRO), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Erik van Engelen
- Royal GD, Department of Research and Development, Deventer, The Netherlands
| | - Annet Heuvelink
- Royal GD, Department of Research and Development, Deventer, The Netherlands
| | - Piet Vellema
- Royal GD, Department of Small Ruminant Health, Deventer, The Netherlands
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Hatton O, Stitzlein L, Dudley RW, Charvat RA. Evaluating the Antiparasitic Activity of Novel BPZ Derivatives Against Toxoplasma gondii. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8081159. [PMID: 32751616 PMCID: PMC7466062 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8081159] [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: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prevalence studies revealed that one-third of the human population is chronically infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Presently, such infections are without medical treatment that effectively eradicates the parasite once it is in its latent form. Moreover, the therapeutics used to treat acute infections are poorly tolerated by patients and also cause the parasite to convert into long-lasting tissue cysts. Hence, there is a dire need for compounds with antiparasitic activity against all forms of T. gondii. This study examines the antiparasitic capacity of nine novel bisphenol Z (BPZ) derivatives to determine whether they possessed any activity that prevented T. gondii replication. To begin assessing the efficacy of the novel derivatives, parasites were treated with increasing concentrations of the compounds, then doubling assays and MitoTracker staining were performed. Three of the nine compounds demonstrated strong inhibitory activity, i.e., parasite replication significantly decreased with higher concentrations. Additionally, many of the treated parasites exhibited decreases in fluorescent signaling and disruption of mitochondrial morphology. These findings suggest that bisphenol Z compounds disrupt mitochondrial function to inhibit parasite replication and may provide a foundation for the development of new and effective treatment modalities against T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Hatton
- Department of Biology, University of Findlay, Findlay, OH 45840, USA;
| | - Lea Stitzlein
- College of Pharmacy, University of Findlay, Findlay, OH 45840, USA; (L.S.); (R.W.D.)
| | - Richard W. Dudley
- College of Pharmacy, University of Findlay, Findlay, OH 45840, USA; (L.S.); (R.W.D.)
| | - Robert A. Charvat
- Department of Biology, University of Findlay, Findlay, OH 45840, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-419-434-5746
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Angel SO, Vanagas L, Ruiz DM, Cristaldi C, Saldarriaga Cartagena AM, Sullivan WJ. Emerging Therapeutic Targets Against Toxoplasma gondii: Update on DNA Repair Response Inhibitors and Genotoxic Drugs. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:289. [PMID: 32656097 PMCID: PMC7325978 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis in animals and humans. This infection is transmitted to humans through oocysts released in the feces of the felines into the environment or by ingestion of undercooked meat. This implies that toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease and T. gondii is a foodborne pathogen. In addition, chronic toxoplasmosis in goats and sheep is the cause of recurrent abortions with economic losses in the sector. It is also a health problem in pets such as cats and dogs. Although there are therapies against this infection in its acute stage, they are not able to permanently eliminate the parasite and sometimes they are not well tolerated. To develop better, safer drugs, we need to elucidate key aspects of the biology of T. gondii. In this review, we will discuss the importance of the homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway in the parasite's lytic cycle and how components of these processes can be potential molecular targets for new drug development programs. In that sense, the effect of different DNA damage agents or HHR inhibitors on the growth and replication of T. gondii will be described. Multitarget drugs that were either associated with other targets or were part of general screenings are included in the list, providing a thorough revision of the drugs that can be tested in other scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio O Angel
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas (CONICET)-Universidad Nacional General San Martin (UNSAM), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Laura Vanagas
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas (CONICET)-Universidad Nacional General San Martin (UNSAM), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Diego M Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas (CONICET)-Universidad Nacional General San Martin (UNSAM), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Constanza Cristaldi
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas (CONICET)-Universidad Nacional General San Martin (UNSAM), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Ana M Saldarriaga Cartagena
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas (CONICET)-Universidad Nacional General San Martin (UNSAM), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - William J Sullivan
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States.,Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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Abstract
In general, foodborne diseases present themselves with gastrointestinal symptoms caused by bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens well established to be foodborne. These pathogens are also associated with extraintestinal clinical manifestations. Recent studies have suggested that Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which both cause common extraintestinal infections such as urinary tract and bloodstream infections, may also be foodborne. The resolution and separation of these organisms into pathotypes versus commensals by modern genotyping methods have led to the identification of key lineages of these organisms causing outbreaks of extraintestinal infections. These epidemiologic observations suggested common- or point-source exposures, such as contaminated food. Here, we describe the spectrum of extraintestinal illnesses caused by recognized enteric pathogens and then review studies that demonstrate the potential role of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) and K. pneumoniae as foodborne pathogens. The impact of global food production and distribution systems on the possible foodborne spread of these pathogens is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee W. Riley
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
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Deng H, Swart A, Bonačić Marinović AA, van der Giessen JW, Opsteegh M. The effect of salting on Toxoplasma gondii viability evaluated and implemented in a quantitative risk assessment of meat-borne human infection. Int J Food Microbiol 2020; 314:108380. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2019.108380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Ranucci D, Battisti E, Veronesi F, Diaferia M, Morganti G, Branciari R, Ferroglio E, Valiani A, Chiesa F. Absence of Viable Toxoplasma gondii in Artisanal Raw-Milk Ewe Cheese Derived from Naturally Infected Animals. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E143. [PMID: 31968682 PMCID: PMC7023469 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8010143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence of viable Toxoplasma gondii was investigated in artisanal cheeses made from milk of naturally infected ewes. Ewe milk was analyzed beforehand for the presence and vitality of T. gondii by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), respectively. Cheeses were prepared from raw milk following a traditional cheesemaking process. The cheese obtained from T. gondii-positive milk was analyzed by LAMP to detect Toxoplasma DNA-positive samples. RT-PCR was then carried out to assess the viability of the parasites in T. gondii-positive milk samples and fresh cheese, after 5 and 15 days of ripening. Physical-chemical parameters of cheeses were also investigated. All cheese samples derived from T. gondii-positive milk were positive according to LAMP, at both 5 and 15 days of ripening, while none of the samples were positive according to RT-PCR. Thus, while the presence of the parasite was demonstrated by the detection of specific DNA, the absence of detectable T. gondii RNA supports the hypothesis that changes in the chemical and physical characteristics occurring during the cheesemaking process and ripening period, could be sufficient to inactivate viable T. gondii in milk, minimizing the risk of human infection through consumption of raw sheep milk cheese.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Ranucci
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, San Costanzo Street 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy; (D.R.); (M.D.); (G.M.); (R.B.)
| | - Elena Battisti
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Paolo Braccini Square 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy; (E.B.); (E.F.); (F.C.)
| | - Fabrizia Veronesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, San Costanzo Street 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy; (D.R.); (M.D.); (G.M.); (R.B.)
| | - Manuela Diaferia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, San Costanzo Street 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy; (D.R.); (M.D.); (G.M.); (R.B.)
| | - Giulia Morganti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, San Costanzo Street 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy; (D.R.); (M.D.); (G.M.); (R.B.)
| | - Raffaella Branciari
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, San Costanzo Street 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy; (D.R.); (M.D.); (G.M.); (R.B.)
| | - Ezio Ferroglio
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Paolo Braccini Square 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy; (E.B.); (E.F.); (F.C.)
| | - Andrea Valiani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati”, Salvemini Street 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Francesco Chiesa
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Paolo Braccini Square 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy; (E.B.); (E.F.); (F.C.)
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Le Roux D, Djokic V, Morisse S, Chauvin C, Doré V, Lagrée AC, Voisin D, Villain Y, Grasset-Chevillot A, Boursin F, Su C, Perrot S, Vallée I, Seche E, Blaga R. Evaluation of immunogenicity and protection of the Mic1-3 knockout Toxoplasma gondii live attenuated strain in the feline host. Vaccine 2019; 38:1457-1466. [PMID: 31864855 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.11.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Up to a third of the global human population is estimated to carry a T. gondii infection, which can result in severe complications in immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women. Humans and animals can become infected by ingesting either tissue cysts containing T. gondii bradyzoites, from raw or undercooked meat, or sporulated oocysts from environmental sources. T. gondii oocysts are released in the faeces of cats and other felids, which are the parasite's definitive hosts, leading to environmental contamination. Therefore, vaccination of the feline host against T. gondii is an interesting strategy to interrupt the parasitic life cycle and subsequently limit contamination of intermediate hosts. With this goal in mind, we tested in cats, an attenuated live strain of T. gondii deleted for the Mic1 and Mic3 genes (Mic1-3KO) that was previously shown to be an efficient vaccine candidate in mouse and sheep models. Subcutaneous or oral vaccination routes induced a high specific antibody titer in the cat sera, indicating that the Mic1-3KO strain is immunogenic for cats. To assess protection induced by the vaccine candidate strain, we followed oocysts shedding by vaccinated cats, after oral challenge with a T. gondii wild-type strain. Surprisingly, a high antibody titer did not prevent cats from shedding oocysts from the challenge strain, regardless of the vaccination route. Our results show that the Mic1-3KO vaccine candidate is immunogenic in the feline host, is well tolerated and safe, but does not confer protection against oocysts shedding after natural infection with wild type T. gondii. This result highlights the particular relationship between T. gondii and its unique definitive host, which indicates the need for further investigations to improve vaccination strategies to limit environmental and livestock contaminations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Le Roux
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France.
| | - Vitomir Djokic
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Solen Morisse
- Vitamféro, Université François Rabelais - UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, Tours, F-37200, France
| | - Clément Chauvin
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Vanessa Doré
- BioPôle Alfort, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Anne-Claire Lagrée
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Déborah Voisin
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Yohan Villain
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Aurélie Grasset-Chevillot
- UMR BIPAR, Anses, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, INRAE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Fanny Boursin
- Vitamféro, Université François Rabelais - UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, Tours, F-37200, France
| | - Chunlei Su
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, United States of America
| | - Sébastien Perrot
- BioPôle Alfort, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Isabelle Vallée
- UMR BIPAR, Anses, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, INRAE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Edouard Seche
- Vitamféro, Université François Rabelais - UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, Tours, F-37200, France
| | - Radu Blaga
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Ramos-Nevarez A, Guido-Arreola CA, Cerrillo-Soto SM, Pérez-Álamos AR, Estrada-Martínez S, Gutierrez-Martinez VD, Sifuentes-Alvarez A, Ramírez-Valles EG, Contreras-Cisneros E. Association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and thyroid dysfunction: a case-control seroprevalence study. BMC Infect Dis 2019; 19:826. [PMID: 31533667 PMCID: PMC6751844 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4450-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and thyroid disease has been poorly studied. Therefore, we sought to determine the association between T. gondii seropositivity and thyroid dysfunction. Methods We performed an age- and gender-matched case-control study of 176 patients suffering from hypothyroidism (n = 161) or hyperthyroidism (n = 15) and 528 control subjects without these diseases in a public hospital in Durango City, Mexico. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were determined in sera from cases and controls using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunoassay. Results Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 11 (6.3%) of 176 patients suffering from thyroid dysfunction and in 48 (9.1%) of 528 control subjects (OR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.33–1.31; P = 0.23). Stratification by two groups of age (50 years and younger, and 51 year and older) showed that the youngest group of patients with thyroid dysfunction had a significantly lower seroprevalence of T. gondii infection than its age- and gender-matched control group (1/83: 1.2% vs 23/257: 8.6%; OR = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.01–0.93; P = 0.01). This stratification also showed that the youngest group of patients with hypothyroidism had a significantly lower seroprevalence of T. gondii infection than its age- and gender matched control group (0/75: 0% vs 21/233: 9.0%; P = 0.003). Conclusions Our results suggest that thyroid dysfunction is not associated with seropositivity to T. gondii in general; however, in young (50 years or less) patients, a negative association between infection and thyroid dysfunction and hypothyroidism was found. Further research to confirm this negative association is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000, Durango, Mexico.
| | - Agar Ramos-Nevarez
- Clínica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079, Durango, Mexico
| | - Carlos Alberto Guido-Arreola
- Clínica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079, Durango, Mexico
| | - Sandra Margarita Cerrillo-Soto
- Clínica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079, Durango, Mexico
| | - Alma Rosa Pérez-Álamos
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000, Durango, Mexico
| | - Sergio Estrada-Martínez
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000, Durango, Mexico
| | | | - Antonio Sifuentes-Alvarez
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000, Durango, Mexico
| | - Eda Guadalupe Ramírez-Valles
- Faculty of Chemical Sciences, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000, Durango, Dgo, Mexico
| | - Edith Contreras-Cisneros
- Clínica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079, Durango, Mexico
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Velázquez-Hernández N, Avilés Ávila AY, Rivas-González MA, Delgado-González SP, Alvarado-Félix GA, Alvarado-Félix ÁO, Beristain-Garcia I, Alvarado-Esquivel C. Knowledge and practices regarding toxoplasmosis in housewives: A cross sectional study in a northern Mexican city. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222094. [PMID: 31498820 PMCID: PMC6733448 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We aimed to determine the knowledge and practices regarding toxoplasmosis among housewives in the northern Mexican city of Durango. One hundred eighty-five women (mean age: 41.27 ± 12.40 years old) with an occupation of housewife were studied. A self-administered questionnaire was used. This tool included items about the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, its transmission routes, general clinical, diagnostic, and treatment aspects of toxoplasmosis, and practices to avoid infection. A minority (<10%) of women knew about the parasite, the disease, how the transmission occurs, the clinical manifestations, how an infection is diagnosed, the treatment, and how to avoid toxoplasmosis. Some women knew that cats can transmit T. gondii infection (20%), and that the parasite can be found in cat feces (20.5%). Only 7.6% of women knew that infection with T. gondii can be transmitted by consumption of contaminated food or water. Only 1.1% of women knew about the prevalence of T. gondii infection. Some (4.9%) women used to taste raw meat while cooking, and 7.6% used to undercook meat. In addition, 20% of women used to eat raw dried meat, and 13.5% consumed untreated water. Less than 90% of women always washed their hands before cooking, and washed fruits or vegetables. The majority (75.1%) of women never wore gloves when handling raw meat. About one quarter (27.6%) of women always froze meat. And 16.2% of women cleaned cat feces. This is the first study regarding knowledge and practices about toxoplasmosis in housewives. Poor knowledge regarding T. gondii infection, toxoplasmosis, and practices to avoid infection among the housewives studied was found. High risk practices for infection were identified. Strategies to improve toxoplasmosis-related knowledge and practices to avoid T. gondii infection and its sequelae in housewives are highly needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Velázquez-Hernández
- Institute for Scientific Research “Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm”, Juárez University of Durango State, Durango, Mexico
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Durango, Mexico
- * E-mail:
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Bărburaș D, Gyӧrke A, Blaga R, Bărburaș R, Kalmár Z, Vişan S, Mircean V, Blaizot A, Cozma V. Toxoplasma gondii in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from Romania: what is the importance for public health? Parasitol Res 2019; 118:2695-2703. [PMID: 31309289 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06396-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in autochthonous Carpathian buffaloes from northwestern Romania by serology, PCR techniques, and mouse bioassay. Agreement between MAT and ELISA, correlation between indirect and direct detection methods, and risk factors were evaluated. The apparent overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 8.1% by MAT and 6.6% by ELISA. The agreement between ELISA and MAT was fair. The apparent seroprevalence was significantly higher in adult buffaloes (12.5%) compared to calves (0.0%) and juveniles (1.9%) by MAT. Most of the positive adult buffaloes detected by MAT had antibodies at a low sera dilution and the highest dilution was 1:768 in a juvenile female (30 months). No viable T. gondii was detected by mouse bioassay, as no T. gondii cyst or DNA was found in the brain of mice and they did not seroconvert. However, T. gondii DNA was detected in two buffaloes: in a 30-month-old male buffalo by qPCR on the diaphragm digest and in a 252-month-old female buffalo by RE nPCR on the mesenteric lymph node. Both animals were negative in MAT and ELISA. The total prevalence of T. gondii by direct detection methods was 2.7%. There was no correlation between indirect and direct detection methods. Since no viable T. gondii was detected in buffaloes, the risk of human infection from buffalo meat is minimal. Buffaloes' biological response to a T. gondii infection appears to be very similar to the response of cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Bărburaș
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Adriana Gyӧrke
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Radu Blaga
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-Est, F-94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | - Zsuzsa Kalmár
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Simona Vişan
- Department of Functional Genomics, Proteomics and Experimental Pathology, The Oncology Institute "Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta", 34-36 Republicii, 400015, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Viorica Mircean
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Amandine Blaizot
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-Est, F-94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Vasile Cozma
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Stelzer S, Basso W, Benavides Silván J, Ortega-Mora L, Maksimov P, Gethmann J, Conraths F, Schares G. Toxoplasma gondii infection and toxoplasmosis in farm animals: Risk factors and economic impact. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2019; 15:e00037. [PMID: 32095611 PMCID: PMC7033994 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2019.e00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Felids, including domestic cats, are definitive hosts that can shed oocysts with their feces. In addition to infections that occur by accidental oral uptake of food or water contaminated with oocysts, it is assumed that a large proportion of affected humans may have become infected by consuming meat or other animal products that contained infective parasitic stages of T. gondii. Since farm animals represent a direct source of infection for humans, but also a possible reservoir for the parasite, it is important to control T. gondii infections in livestock. Moreover, T. gondii may also be pathogenic to livestock where it could be responsible for considerable economic losses in some regions and particular farming systems, e.g. in areas where the small ruminant industry is relevant. This review aims to summarize actual knowledge on the prevalence and effects of infections with T. gondii in the most important livestock species and on the effects of toxoplasmosis on livestock. It also provides an overview on potential risk factors favoring infections of livestock with T. gondii. Knowledge on potential risk factors is prerequisite to implement effective biosecurity measures on farms to prevent T. gondii infections. Risk factors identified by many studies are cat-related, but also those associated with a potential contamination of fodder or water, and with access to a potentially contaminated environment. Published information on the costs T. gondii infections cause in livestock production, is scarce. The most recent peer reviewed reports from Great Britain and Uruguay suggest annual cost of about 5-15 million US $ per country. Since these estimates are outdated, future studies are needed to estimate the present costs due to toxoplasmosis in livestock. Further, the fact that T. gondii infections in livestock may affect human health needs to be considered and the respective costs should also be estimated, but this is beyond the scope of this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Stelzer
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - W. Basso
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - J. Benavides Silván
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León) Grulleros, 24346 León, Spain
| | - L.M. Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - P. Maksimov
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - J. Gethmann
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - F.J. Conraths
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - G. Schares
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
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Koutsoumanis K, Allende A, Alvarez-Ordóñez A, Bolton D, Bover-Cid S, Chemaly M, Davies R, De Cesare A, Herman L, Hilbert F, Lindqvist R, Nauta M, Peixe L, Ru G, Simmons M, Skandamis P, Suffredini E, Cacciò S, Chalmers R, Deplazes P, Devleesschauwer B, Innes E, Romig T, van der Giessen J, Hempen M, Van der Stede Y, Robertson L. Public health risks associated with food-borne parasites. EFSA J 2018; 16:e05495. [PMID: 32625781 PMCID: PMC7009631 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites are important food‐borne pathogens. Their complex lifecycles, varied transmission routes, and prolonged periods between infection and symptoms mean that the public health burden and relative importance of different transmission routes are often difficult to assess. Furthermore, there are challenges in detection and diagnostics, and variations in reporting. A Europe‐focused ranking exercise, using multicriteria decision analysis, identified potentially food‐borne parasites of importance, and that are currently not routinely controlled in food. These are Cryptosporidium spp., Toxoplasma gondii and Echinococcus spp. Infection with these parasites in humans and animals, or their occurrence in food, is not notifiable in all Member States. This Opinion reviews current methods for detection, identification and tracing of these parasites in relevant foods, reviews literature on food‐borne pathways, examines information on their occurrence and persistence in foods, and investigates possible control measures along the food chain. The differences between these three parasites are substantial, but for all there is a paucity of well‐established, standardised, validated methods that can be applied across the range of relevant foods. Furthermore, the prolonged period between infection and clinical symptoms (from several days for Cryptosporidium to years for Echinococcus spp.) means that source attribution studies are very difficult. Nevertheless, our knowledge of the domestic animal lifecycle (involving dogs and livestock) for Echinoccocus granulosus means that this parasite is controllable. For Echinococcus multilocularis, for which the lifecycle involves wildlife (foxes and rodents), control would be expensive and complicated, but could be achieved in targeted areas with sufficient commitment and resources. Quantitative risk assessments have been described for Toxoplasma in meat. However, for T. gondii and Cryptosporidium as faecal contaminants, development of validated detection methods, including survival/infectivity assays and consensus molecular typing protocols, are required for the development of quantitative risk assessments and efficient control measures.
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