Prevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in pets and their owners in Shandong province, Eastern China

Molecular detection and dense granule antigen 6 genotyping of feline Toxoplasma gondii in Phayao, Thailand

Background and Aim:

Globally, toxoplasmosis is an important zoonotic parasite infection of many warm-blooded animals (including humans). Toxoplasma gondii oocysts are widespread, and their contamination can be primarily attributed to the members of the Felidae family. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and determine the dense granule antigen 6 (GRA6) genotype of T. gondii among domestic cats in the Phayao Province, Thailand.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 124 fecal samples were collected from owned cats in the Muang district, Phayao, Thailand, from January to December 2020. Fecal samples were tested for the presence of T. gondii DNA using targeted B1 gene polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, and positive samples were subsequently analyzed for their T. gondii genotype through PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and sequencing of the GRA6 gene.

Results:

Among the 124 samples, 46 (37.1%) were tested positive for T. gondii. Only 10 positive DNA samples were successfully amplified for the GRA6 marker. Subsequent PCR-RFLP and sequence analyses indicated that all T. gondii isolates from cats in Phayao belonged to GRA6 genotype I.

Conclusion:

Data revealed that toxoplasmosis is remarkably distributed among (studied) domestic cats in Phayao, Thailand. Moreover, the virulent GRA6 allele was found to be circulated among domestic cats in this area. However, no significant correlation was observed between infection rates and different risk factors, which indicated that pet cats of any age, gender, or breed have similar risks of being infected with T. gondii. Our results further suggested that infective oocysts of T. gondii are widely distributed and that environmental contamination with these oocysts will introduce more risks of disease transmission to humans and other animals.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii in urban cats from China

BACKGROUND

Toxoplasma gondii infects almost all warm-blooded animals, and cats play a crucial role in the epidemiology of T. gondii as the definitive host. Despite sporadic reports on the seroprevalence of T. gondii in domestic cats, systematic surveys are lacking and some regions remain in China uninvestigated.

METHODS

A total of 1,521 serum samples were collected from 10 regions of China and analyzed by antibodies against T. gondii by ELISA with the purpose of identifying risk factors of T. gondii infection in cats across China and obtaining seroprevalence data from some previously uninvestigated areas.

RESULTS

Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 62 of 1,478 (4.2%) urban pet cats and in 9 of 43 (20.9%) stray cats. Among the regions examined, the prevalence was 13% in Sichuan, 12.8% in Chongqing, 6.4% in Hunan, 2.5% in Hubei and 0.9% in Guangdong. Additionally, this is the first report on the seroprevalence of T. gondii in urban pet cats from Qinghai (6.2%), Anhui (3.1%), Jiangxi (2.5%), Shaanxi (2.4%) and Ningxia (1.6%). The age and lifestyle (stray or pet) of cats were identified as the risk factors for seropositivity by multivariate analysis of the data.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings improve our understanding of seroprevalence and risk factors of T. gondii infection in cats across China, and provide useful information for the formulating of preventive and control measures against this widespread zoonotic parasite.

Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Blood Donors from Western Romania

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is estimated to infect 33% of blood donors worldwide, and seroprevalence varies widely between countries. We aimed to evaluate, for the first time, the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii in blood donors from Western Romania. Methods: Serologic testing to demonstrate the presence of T. gondii antibodies was conducted in 1347 healthy blood donors. Risk factors for T. gondii infection were assessed through an epidemiological questionnaire. Results: The overall prevalence of T. gondii antibodies was 45.9%, with a significant age-associated increase (p < 0.001) from 32.6% in age group 18−25 years to 67.6% in age group 56−63 years. T. gondii seroprevalence decreased with increasing level of education, from 64.3% in individuals who graduated from elementary/middle school to 40.4% in those who graduated from University (p < 0.001). The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age, level of education and having pets (cats and/or dogs) were significantly associated with T. gondii infection. Conclusions: This study brings new and valuable data regarding the seroepidemiology of T. gondii infection in Romania. Our findings indicate a high prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in blood donors and may serve as a starting point for further epidemiological studies that should lead to implementation of prevention programs for toxoplasmosis.

Geospatial epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in livestock, pets, and humans in China, 1984-2020

Undercooked or raw meat containing cyst-stage bradyzoites and oocyst-contaminated pets are presumed to constitute a major source of human toxoplasmosis. As the geospatial epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in livestock, pets, and humans is rarely studied in China, we undertook a geospatial analysis using GIS visualization techniques. The present study retrieved information from the PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Baidu Scholar databases from 1984 up to 2020. All the data about the seroprevalence of T. gondii in livestock (sheep and goats, pigs, cattle and yaks), pets (cats, dogs), and humans in China were collected. Geospatial epidemiology of T. gondii infection in these hosts was performed using GIS. Results revealed that the estimated pooled seroprevalence of T. gondii was ranged from 3.98 to 43.02% in sheep and goats in China, 0.75 to 30.34% in cattle and yaks, 10.45 to 66.47% in pigs, 2.50 to 60.00% in cats, 0.56 to 27.65% in dogs, and 0.72 to 23.41% in humans. The higher seroprevalences of T. gondii were observed in sheep and goats in the districts of Chongqing, Zhejiang, and Beijing. The infection rates of T. gondii in cattle and yaks were higher in Guizhou, Zhejiang, and Chongqing. Also, the pigs from Chongqing and Guizhou were most severely infected with T. gondii. For cats, the districts of Shanxi, Hebei, and Yunnan had higher seroprevalences of T. gondii and, the infections among dogs were higher in Yunnan and Hebei as well. Furthermore, higher infection pressure of T. gondii exists in the districts of Taiwan and Tibet in humans. The geographical and spatial distribution of toxoplasmosis indicated that infection with T. gondii was widely spread in China, with a wide range of variations among the different hosts and regions in the country. Our results suggested that livestock and pets are not only a reservoir for the parasite but also a direct source of T. gondii infection for humans. It is important to control T. gondii infections in these animals that would reduce the risk of toxoplasmosis in humans.

Toxoplasma gondii infection in pet cats and their owners in northeastern China:an important public health concern

Background

Limited information about Toxoplasma gondii infection in pet cats and their owners is available in China.

Methods

In this study, blood samples were randomly collected from 306 pet cats and 397 corresponding pet owners in Jilin province, northeastern China. Sera from the pet cats and the pet owners were tested for anti-T. gondii antibodies using an modified agglutination test (MAT) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Moreover, the risk factors for T. gondii infection in pet cats and corresponding pet owners were explored.

Result

In total, 62 sera out of 306 examined pet cats (20.3%) and 18.1% (72/397) pet cat owners were seropositive for T. gondii, respectively. The results of statistical analysis showed that both pet cats and their owners from rural area had significantly higher T. gondii seroprevalence than those from urban area (p < 0.001). Moreover, owners of pet cas who have the knowledge of zoonotic protozoan diseases had a significantly lower T. gondii seroprevalence than those without the knowledge of zoonotic protozoan diseases (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The present results revealed that the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection are widespread in pet cats and their owners in Jilin province, northeastern China. Residence area and understanding knowledge of zoonotic protozoan diseases are considered to be raleted to the T. gondii infection. Hence, it is necessary to highlight the dangers and protection methods of zoonotic protozoan diseases caused by pet cats, especially in rural area.

The State of Art of Extracellular Traps in Protozoan Infections (Review)

Protozoan parasite infection causes severe diseases in humans and animals, leading to tremendous economic and medical pressure. Natural immunity is the first line of defence against parasitic infection. Currently, the role of natural host immunity in combatting parasitic infection is unclear, so further research on natural host immunity against parasites will provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of related parasitic diseases. Extracellular traps (ETs) are an important natural mechanism of immunity involving resistance to pathogens. When immune cells such as neutrophils and macrophages are stimulated by external pathogens, they release a fibrous network structure, consisting mainly of DNA and protein, that can capture and kill a variety of extracellular pathogenic microorganisms. In this review, we discuss the relevant recently reported data on ET formation induced by protozoan parasite infection, including the molecular mechanisms involved, and discuss the role of ETs in the occurrence and development of parasitic diseases.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in cats in mainland China 2016-2020: a meta-analysis

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.

T. gondii Infection in Urban and Rural Areas in the Amazon: Where Is the Risk for Toxoplasmosis?

Toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which is found worldwide, can affect human and animal health in different ways. This study aimed to estimate the infection prevalence in humans and to determine risk factors related to urban and rural areas in a municipality in the Brazilian Amazon where an outbreak had been registered. Blood samples for serological analysis were obtained, and interviews were performed to fill out an epidemiological questionnaire. A total of 1140 individuals were included, of which 70.6% (804/1140; 95% CI: 67.9–73.2%) were positive for IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies. In rural areas, the prevalence was 62.6% (95% CI: 58.9–66.3%), while in urban areas, it was 81.9% (95% CI: 78.4–85.4%). The risk of becoming infected in urban areas was 2.7 times higher (95% CI = 2.0–3.6%) than that in rural areas. When comparing the prevalence in the age group from 1 to 10 years in both areas, the rate was 28.6% (42/147; 95% CI: 21.3–35.9%) for rural areas and 69.4% (61/88; CI 95%: 59.7–79.0%) for urban areas. Therefore, it is concluded that parasite exposure starts in the first years of life in urban areas and that disordered urban area expansion may cause an increase in exposure to the different strains of T. gondii present in the Amazon.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in outdoor dogs and cats in Bangkok, Thailand

The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii exposure in dogs and cats from Bangkok, Thailand. Blood samples from 318 dogs and 321 cats were tested for T. gondii antibodies by modified agglutination test (cut-off 1:25). Additionally, 18 dogs and 20 cats were longitudinally sampled for T. gondii antibodies during the same study period, between June and July 2019. The overall seroprevalence in dogs and cats was 7.9% (25/318; 95% CI 4.9–10.8%) and 18.7% (95% CI 14.4–23.0%), respectively. For dogs, risk factors identified were being a mixed-breed animal and living totally outdoors, while increasing age was shown to be a risk factor for cats. Seroconversion was not detected and titres from positive animals remained constant over longitudinal study. The present study indicates that there is a prominent presence of T. gondii in urban and peri-urban areas of Bangkok, suggesting that outdoor dogs and cats should be considered as a possible risk factor for humans.

Toxoplasma gondii infections in dogs: 2009-2020

Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. The present review summarizes worldwide information on the prevalence of clinical and subclinical infections, epidemiology, diagnosis, and genetic diversity of T. gondii in dogs (Canis familiaris) from 2009-2020. Seroprevalence estimates of T. gondii worldwide were tabulated. Reports of high seroprevalence in canine population and high congenital transmission of T. gondii in dogs in Brazil are reviewed. Most reports from China were published in Chinese, and these reports are now summarized here. Dogs have an additional importance in some countries such as China, Vietnam, and Nigeria; whereas in many cities dog meat is sold commercially for human consumption and given to felids, and transmission of T. gondii could occur if meat is not cooked properly. Dogs can ingest T. gondii-infected cat feces and these oocysts remain viable after passage through the digestive tract of the dog; T. gondii DNA was found in feces of dogs from New York City parks in USA. Most clinical canine cases of toxoplasmosis were in immunosuppressed dogs, and ulcerative dermatitis was one of the main presentations. Genetic diversity based on PCR-RFLP markers using DNA derived from 133 viable T. gondii isolates from dogs from several countries is discussed. T. gondii strains from Asia and Americas were more genetically diverse than those from Africa. This review will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, veterinarians, and public health workers.

Z. Frequency of Toxoplasma gondii and Risk Factors Associated with the Infection in Stray Dogs and Cats of Panama

Stray animals such as dogs and cats have an important role in maintaining the transmission cycles and dissemination of Toxoplasma gondii. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of T. gondii in stray dogs and cats in six different regions of Panama and determine risk factors associated with the dynamics of infection in each of the studied regions. Data were obtained using serological tests for the detection of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies. The results of this study revealed an overall infection frequency of 23.73%. The infection frequencies found in dog and cat populations were 25.70% and 21.93% respectively, showing no statistically significant difference. Risk factor correlations suggested different infection dynamics depending on the region analyzed. The San Miguelito, North and West regions were more associated with positive cases in dogs with an age range greater than 13 months. Conversely, the Metro, Central and East regions were more associated with negative cases in cats with age ranging between 0 and 5 months. Infection of the parasite in stray animals can be influenced by intrinsic characteristics of each region, which can potentiate different risk factors associated with the different routes of transmission.

All about toxoplasmosis in cats: the last decade

Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. Toxoplasmosis continues to be of public health concern. Cats (domestic and wild felids) are the most important host in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis because they are the only species that can excrete the environmentally resistant oocysts in feces. Cats can excrete millions of oocysts and a single cat can spread infection to many hosts. The present paper summarizes information on prevalence, persistence of infection, clinical signs, and diagnosis of T. gondii infections in domestic and wild cats for the past decade. Special emphasis is paid to genetic diversity of T. gondii isolates from cats. Review of literature indicates that a unique genotype (ToxoDB genotype #9 or Chinese 1) is widely prevalent in cats in China and it has been epidemiologically linked to outbreaks of clinical toxoplasmosis in pigs and deaths in humans in China; this genotype has rarely been detected in other countries. This review will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, veterinarians, and public health workers.

Toxoplasma gondii Seropositivity and Associated Risk Factors in Cats (Felis catus) in Three Provinces in Northeastern China from 2013 to 2019

Toxoplasma gondii is an important protozoan parasite that can infect a range of animals. Cats are the most important definitive hosts for T. gondii. Therefore, an assessment of the level of T. gondii infection in cats is of public health importance. As limited information about seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in cats in northeastern China was available, 854 serum samples, including 235 cats in Jilin province, 267 cats in Liaoning province, and 352 cats in Heilongjiang province, were examined by an indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) test, between September 2013 and July 2019. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 19.09% (163/854) at the cutoff 1:64, with 19.60% (69/352), 18.29% (43/235), and 19.10% (51/267) in Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that mode of life was highly related to T. gondii infection in cats at the investigation areas. These results could provide foundation data for prevention and control of T. gondii prevalence in these regions. Moreover, the results also suggested that the effective control strategies should continue to be performed.

The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis-Heart Shunt Part II: Prosaic Foods and the Brain-Heart Connection in Alzheimer Disease

There is a strong cerebrovascular component to brain aging, Alzheimer disease, and vascular dementia. Foods, common drugs, and the polyphenolic compounds contained in wine modulate health both directly and through the gut microbiota. This observation and novel findings centered on nutrition, biochemistry, and metabolism, as well as the newer insights we gain into the microbiota-gut-brain axis, now lead us to propose a shunt to this classic triad, which involves the heart and cerebrovascular systems. The French paradox and prosaic foods, as they relate to the microbiota-gut-brain axis and neurodegenerative diseases, are discussed in this manuscript, which is the second part of a two-part series of concept papers addressing the notion that the microbiota and host liver metabolism all play roles in brain and heart health.

Prevalence and risk factors profile of seropositive Toxoplasmosis gondii infection among apparently immunocompetent Sudanese women

Objectives

Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic parasite that causes a clinical manifestation known as toxoplasmosis. We investigated the prevalence and potential risk factors of T. gondii infection among women in Khartoum, Sudan. A sero-parasitological cross-sectional study included 100 women aging between 15 and 50 years old was conducted between January and November 2018. Serum samples were collected and investigated for the presence of anti-T. gondii immunoglobulins.

Results

Mean age of the women population included was 26.75 ± 8.25 with a range between 15 and 50 years. Sero-prevalence of T. gondii antibodies was 27% (27/100) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 18.6–36.8%. Among seropositive population 81% (22/27), 15% (4/27) and 4% (1/27) were seropositive for IgG antibodies, IgM antibodies and both antibodies respectively. Age group 21–30 years old had the highest frequency of detected IgG (10/45) and IgM (3/45). Married women had the highest frequency of detected IgG or IgM, 18/79 and 3/79, respectively. Risk factors analysis showed a total of 37/100 participants were having direct contact with cats and 66/100 have a frequent raw meat consumption, neither direct cats contact nor raw meat consumption had a statistically significant association with seropositivity to T. gondii (P value = 0.052 and 0.565, respectively).

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-019-4314-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.