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Ortiz OR, Norris T. A Blast From the Past: Toxoplasmic Encephalitis As the Initial Presentation of HIV/AIDS. Cureus 2024; 16:e58693. [PMID: 38651086 PMCID: PMC11034395 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58693] [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] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Many opportunistic infections (OIs) seen early in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic receded in prevalence with the advent of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Despite the availability of early detection and treatment of HIV as well as guidelines for near-universal screening, there remains a sizable population of individuals living with HIV who are not yet aware of their HIV status. These individuals are at risk for OIs such as toxoplasmosis, which would otherwise be preventable with ART and appropriate prophylaxis. Toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) usually occurs in the late stages of HIV with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), but we present a case of a 38-year-old female with TE as the initial presentation of HIV/AIDS. Testing for the presence of an immunocompromising condition such as HIV is important in patients presenting with focal brain lesions as the differential diagnosis will change, and proper workup may spare invasive procedures such as a brain biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tara Norris
- Internal Medicine, Methodist Health System, Dallas, USA
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Caceres A, Caceres-Alan A, Caceres-Alan T. Toxoplasma gondii infections in pediatric neurosurgery. Childs Nerv Syst 2024; 40:295-301. [PMID: 36943435 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-023-05915-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that is estimated to infect one-third of the world's population. It is acquired by ingesting contaminated water and food specially undercooked meat, contact with domestic or wild feline feces, and during pregnancy by transplacental transmission.Immunocompetent hosts are usually asymptomatic, and infection will be self-limited, while those patients whose immune system is debilitated by HIV infection, immunosuppressive therapy, long-term steroid treatment, and fetuses infected during gestation will show evidence of systemic activity which is more severe in the central nervous system and eyes due to insufficient immune response caused by their respective blood barriers. Congenital toxoplasmosis has an estimated incidence of 8% in mothers who were seronegative at the beginning of their pregnancy. Infection in the first trimester may result in spontaneous abortion or stillbirth; however, it is estimated that the highest risk for vertical transmission is during the second and third trimesters when blood flow and placenta thickness favor parasitic transmission.Congenital toxoplasmosis can be detected with periodic surveillance in endemic areas, and with appropriate treatment, the risk of vertical transmission can be reduced, and the severity of the disease can be reversed in infected fetuses.While most infected newborns will show no evidence of the disease, those who suffer active intrauterine complications will present with cerebral calcifications in 8-12% of cases, hydrocephalus in 4-30%, and chorioretinitis in 12-15%. Also, seizure disorders, spasticity, and varying degrees of neurocognitive deficits can be found in 12%.Four distinct patterns of hydrocephalus have been described: aqueductal stenosis with lateral and third ventricle dilatation, periforaminal calcifications leading to foramen of Monro stenosis with associated asymmetrical ventricle dilatation, a mix of aqueductal and foramen of Monro stenosis, and overt hydrocephalus without clear evidence of obstruction with predominant dilatation of occipital horns (colpocephaly).While all patients diagnosed with congenital toxoplasmosis should undergo pharmacological treatment, those presenting with hydrocephalus have traditionally been managed with CSF shunting; however, there are reports of at least 50% success when selected cases are treated with endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Successful hydrocephalus management with appropriate treatment leads to better intellectual outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Caceres
- Pediatric Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Nacional de Niños "Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera", CCSS, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Ariadnna Caceres-Alan
- Pediatric Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Nacional de Niños "Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera", CCSS, San José, Costa Rica
- Universidad de Ciencias Médicas, UCIMED, San José, Costa Rica
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Sousa DER, Wilson TM, Macêdo IL, Romano APM, Ramos DG, Passos PHO, Costa GRT, Fonseca VS, Mares-Guia MAMM, Giovanetti M, Alcantara LCJ, de Filippis AMB, Paludo GR, Melo CB, Castro MB. Case report: Urbanized non-human primates as sentinels for human zoonotic diseases: a case of acute fatal toxoplasmosis in a free-ranging marmoset in coinfection with yellow fever virus. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1236384. [PMID: 37670831 PMCID: PMC10475956 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1236384] [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: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Free-ranging non-human primates (NHP) can live in anthropized areas or urban environments in close contact with human populations. This condition can enable the emergence and transmission of high-impact zoonotic pathogens. For the first time, we detected a coinfection of the yellow fever (YF) virus with Toxoplasma gondii in a free-ranging NHP in a highly urbanized area of a metropolis in Brazil. Specifically, we observed this coinfection in a black-tufted marmoset found dead and taken for a necropsy by the local health surveillance service. After conducting an epidemiological investigation, characterizing the pathological features, and performing molecular assays, we confirmed that the marmoset developed an acute fatal infection caused by T. gondii in coinfection with a new YF virus South American-1 sub-lineage. As a result, we have raised concerns about the public health implications of these findings and discussed the importance of diagnosis and surveillance of zoonotic agents in urbanized NHPs. As competent hosts of zoonotic diseases such as YF and environmental sentinels for toxoplasmosis, NHPs play a crucial role in the One Health framework to predict and prevent the emergence of dangerous human pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davi E. R. Sousa
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Tais M. Wilson
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Isabel L. Macêdo
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Alessandro P. M. Romano
- Technical Group of Arbovirus Surveillance, General Coordination of Communicable Diseases, Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance, Secretariat of Health Surveillance, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Daniel G. Ramos
- Technical Group of Arbovirus Surveillance, General Coordination of Communicable Diseases, Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance, Secretariat of Health Surveillance, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Pedro H. O. Passos
- Technical Group of Arbovirus Surveillance, General Coordination of Communicable Diseases, Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance, Secretariat of Health Surveillance, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Gabriela R. T. Costa
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
- Environmental Health Surveillance Directorate of the Federal District, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Vagner S. Fonseca
- Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde/Organização Mundial da Saúde, Brasília, Brazil
- Instituto Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Marta Giovanetti
- Instituto Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Development and One Health, University of Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luiz Carlos Junior Alcantara
- Instituto Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Laboratório de Arbovírus e Vírus Hemorrágicos (LARBOH), Instituto Osawldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria B. de Filippis
- Laboratório de Arbovírus e Vírus Hemorrágicos (LARBOH), Instituto Osawldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Giane R. Paludo
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Cristiano B. Melo
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Márcio B. Castro
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
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Basmalah AN, Sugianto P. Significant clinical outcome using pyrimethamine and clindamycin in cerebral toxoplasmosis with severe edema: a case report. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2023; 85:1034-1037. [PMID: 37113934 PMCID: PMC10129152 DOI: 10.1097/ms9.0000000000000313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral toxoplasmosis is a complication in HIV/AIDS patients that has recently increased in new cases due to increased HIV/AIDS incidents. Case Presentation An Indonesian male, 26-year old, complained of severe headache, left hemiparesis, and tremors. A brain computed tomography scan with contrast showed a large mass, extensive edema, and a significant midline shift resembling a brain tumor. The HIV test was positive, and CD4 decreased. The patient was treated with dexamethasone, mannitol, and pyrimethamine-clindamycin as therapy. After 2 weeks of treatment, the headache, hemiparesis, and tremor were clinically improved. Two months later, a brain computed tomography scan and MRI showed a good prognosis. Clinical Discussion The diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis is based on a radiological examination and an HIV/AIDS test. Management of cerebral toxoplasmosis using pyrimethamine-clindamycin, while steroids are not recommended unless disproportionate cytotoxic edema is displayed and life-threatening. Conclusion A combination of pyrimethamine-clindamycin, and steroids can improve the prognosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis with severe edema.
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Affiliation(s)
- Affan Nadzar Basmalah
- Corresponding author. Address: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga – Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Jl. Mayjend Professor Dr. Moestopo. No. 6-8, Airlangga, Gubeng, Surabaya 60286, East Java, Indonesia. Tel: +62 315 501 670; Fax:+6231-5022472. E-mail address: (A.N. Basmalah)
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Hwee TANGP, Koh Cheng THOON. Imaging of Congenital/Childhood Central Nervous System Infections. Neuroimaging Clin N Am 2023; 33:207-224. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nic.2022.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Czech T, Shah P, Lee G, Watanabe G, Ogasawara C, Noh T. Cerebral toxoplasmosis in a patient with combined variable immunodeficiency. Surg Neurol Int 2022; 13:354. [PMID: 36128152 PMCID: PMC9479566 DOI: 10.25259/sni_532_2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Cerebral toxoplasmosis is an opportunistic infection in patients but has rarely been described in the setting of compromised humoral immunodeficiency. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of the infection is critical in the care of these patients. Medical management is the mainstay of treatment of the infection. There have been very few reports of surgical management of cerebral toxoplasmosis. Case Description: We describe the case of a 40-year-old male who presented with headache, memory deficits, weight loss, and left-sided weakness in the setting of a known but undiagnosed brain lesion identified 1 month prior. Imaging demonstrated a right basal ganglia lesion which was initially presumed to be malignancy. On further workup including a positive serum test and biopsy including polymerase chain reaction analysis, diagnosis was confirmed as toxoplasmosis. On further investigation, he was found to have deficiencies in immunoglobulins consistent with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). The patient underwent craniotomy with surgical debulking as repeat imaging showed increased size of mass with new satellite lesions and worsening hydrocephalus. Conclusion: Cerebral toxoplasmosis is an important differential to consider in cases of intracerebral lesions and should not necessarily be excluded in the absence of compromised cellular immunity. In cases where there is no immunocompromised state and malignancy cannot immediately be established, CVID should be considered as an etiology. Due to the subtlety of CVID diagnosis, careful attention should be paid to history taking and workup for CVID should be considered as soon as possible. Surgical removal of these lesions in conjunction with medications is an effective treatment option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torrey Czech
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
| | - Parthav Shah
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
| | - Gunnar Lee
- Department of Neurological Surgery, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
| | - Gina Watanabe
- Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
| | - Christian Ogasawara
- Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
| | - Thomas Noh
- Neurosurgery, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
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Khosla A, Singhal S, Jotwani P, Kleyman R. Cerebral Toxoplasmosis As the Initial Presentation of HIV: A Case Series. Cureus 2022; 14:e23359. [PMID: 35475054 PMCID: PMC9018902 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.23359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The HIV epidemic afflicts millions across the globe, and Sub-Saharan countries bear a disproportionately high burden. Cerebral toxoplasmosis is commonly seen as the disease progresses but is rarely ever reported as the initial manifestation of HIV. The clinical presentation, co-existing risk factors, and outcomes remain underreported. The objective of this article is to report cerebral toxoplasmosis as the initial manifestation of HIV. This is a consecutive series of three patients that presented to a community hospital in Pennsylvania, United States, with a variety of neuropsychiatric symptoms and were found to have cerebral toxoplasmosis. The findings are compared with existing literature on cerebral toxoplasmosis as the initial manifestation of HIV. Cerebral toxoplasmosis as the initial manifestation of HIV is a rarely reported phenomenon. Hyponatremia may be linked with this disease-complex, although further studies are warranted to establish a causal relationship. Co-infection with hepatitis viruses is also a common finding in these patients.
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Fader Kaiser CM, Romano PS, Vanrell MC, Pocognoni CA, Jacob J, Caruso B, Delgui LR. Biogenesis and Breakdown of Lipid Droplets in Pathological Conditions. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:826248. [PMID: 35198567 PMCID: PMC8860030 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.826248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipid droplets (LD) have long been considered as mere fat drops; however, LD have lately been revealed to be ubiquitous, dynamic and to be present in diverse organelles in which they have a wide range of key functions. Although incompletely understood, the biogenesis of eukaryotic LD initiates with the synthesis of neutral lipids (NL) by enzymes located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The accumulation of NL leads to their segregation into nanometric nuclei which then grow into lenses between the ER leaflets as they are further filled with NL. The lipid composition and interfacial tensions of both ER and the lenses modulate their shape which, together with specific ER proteins, determine the proneness of LD to bud from the ER toward the cytoplasm. The most important function of LD is the buffering of energy. But far beyond this, LD are actively integrated into physiological processes, such as lipid metabolism, control of protein homeostasis, sequestration of toxic lipid metabolic intermediates, protection from stress, and proliferation of tumours. Besides, LD may serve as platforms for pathogen replication and defense. To accomplish these functions, from biogenesis to breakdown, eukaryotic LD have developed mechanisms to travel within the cytoplasm and to establish contact with other organelles. When nutrient deprivation occurs, LD undergo breakdown (lipolysis), which begins with the LD-associated members of the perilipins family PLIN2 and PLIN3 chaperone-mediated autophagy degradation (CMA), a specific type of autophagy that selectively degrades a subset of cytosolic proteins in lysosomes. Indeed, PLINs CMA degradation is a prerequisite for further true lipolysis, which occurs via cytosolic lipases or by lysosome luminal lipases when autophagosomes engulf portions of LD and target them to lysosomes. LD play a crucial role in several pathophysiological processes. Increased accumulation of LD in non-adipose cells is commonly observed in numerous infectious diseases caused by intracellular pathogens including viral, bacterial, and parasite infections, and is gradually recognized as a prominent characteristic in a variety of cancers. This review discusses current evidence related to the modulation of LD biogenesis and breakdown caused by intracellular pathogens and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio M Fader Kaiser
- CONICET Dr. Mario H. Burgos Institute of Histology and Embryology (IHEM), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Patricia S Romano
- CONICET Dr. Mario H. Burgos Institute of Histology and Embryology (IHEM), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - M Cristina Vanrell
- CONICET Dr. Mario H. Burgos Institute of Histology and Embryology (IHEM), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Cristian A Pocognoni
- CONICET Dr. Mario H. Burgos Institute of Histology and Embryology (IHEM), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Julieta Jacob
- CONICET Dr. Mario H. Burgos Institute of Histology and Embryology (IHEM), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Benjamín Caruso
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biologicas y Tecnologicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina
| | - Laura R Delgui
- CONICET Dr. Mario H. Burgos Institute of Histology and Embryology (IHEM), Mendoza, Argentina
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Graham AK, Fong C, Naqvi A, Lu JQ. Toxoplasmosis of the central nervous system: Manifestations vary with immune responses. J Neurol Sci 2020; 420:117223. [PMID: 33213861 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2020.117223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is an opportunistic infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii (TG), which affects one third of the global human population and commonly involves the central nervous system (CNS)/brain despite the so-called CNS immune privilege. Symptomatic clinical disease of TG infection is much more commonly associated with immunodeficiency; clinicopathological manifestations of CNS toxoplasmosis are linked to individual immune responses including the CNS infiltration of T-cells that are thought to prevent the disease. In patients with autoimmune diseases, immune status is complicated mainly byimmunosuppressant and/or immunomodulatory treatment but typically accompanied by infiltration of T-cells that supposedly fight against toxoplasmosis. In this article, we review characteristics of CNS toxoplasmosis comparatively in immunocompromised patients, immunocompetent patients, and patients with coexisting autoimmune diseases, as well as CNS immune responses to toxoplasmosis with a representative case to demonstrate brain lesions at different stages. In addition to general understanding of CNS toxoplasmosis, our review reveals that clinical manifestations of CNS toxoplasmosis are commonly nonspecific, and incidental pathological findings of TG infection are relatively common in immunocompetent patients and patients with autoimmune diseases (compared to immunocompromised patients); CNS immune responses such as T-cell infiltrates vary in acute and chronic lesions of brain toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice K Graham
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
| | - Crystal Fong
- Neuroradiology Division, Department of Radiology, Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Asghar Naqvi
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jian-Qiang Lu
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Neuropathology Section, Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
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Diagnostic significance of C-reactive protein and hematological parameters in acute toxoplasmosis. J Parasit Dis 2020; 44:785-793. [PMID: 32904402 PMCID: PMC7456360 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-020-01262-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which can be acquired by oral contact and may cause severe health problems especially for pregnant (congenital toxoplasmosis) and immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to verify the diagnostic significance of hematological parameters and C-reactive protein (CRP) for toxoplasmosis acute detection. A case-control study was carried out between December 2017 and May 2018, in samples of convenience independent of age and sex. The case group was formed by 25 patients with positive anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG/IgM antibody and the control group was formed by 21 patients with non-positive anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG/IgM antibody. The results of the hematological parameters and CRP were analyzed in these patients. The patients with Toxoplasma gondii IgM antibody reagent showed higher lymphocytes counting and lower neutrophils counting than the control group. C-reactive protein levels were not different between the groups case and control. ROC curve analysis highlighted that the cut-off value of > 32.00% for lymphocytes and < 57.50% for neutrophils were able to produce specificity higher than 90% for IgM antibody detection. The Naïve Bayes classifier was considered suitable (AUC ≈ 0.700) to separate both groups according to their white cell counting. Changes in lymphocytes and neutrophils may be useful parameters for toxoplasmosis identification and may be used as a tool in the complementary diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. Graphic abstract ![]()
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Wang S, Yao Z, Li H, Li P, Wang D, Zhang H, Xie Q, Zhang Z, Li X. Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in primary school children in Henan province, central China. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 27:23. [PMID: 32254019 PMCID: PMC7137538 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2020018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite with global distribution. However, data on T. gondii infection among children in primary school in Henan province, central China were lacking. In this study, 2451 serum samples of primary school children in this province were collected from September 2015 to October 2018 and evaluated for T. gondii antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The overall seroprevalence was 9.51% (233/2451), of which 7.59% (186/2451) showed IgG positivity, 0.73% (18/2451) IgM and 1.18% (29/2451) both. The main risk factors related to T. gondii infections were the age of children, residence area, contact with cats, and exposure to soil. Moreover, hand washing before eating was considered a protective factor. Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among the study population was common, emphasizing the need to prevent and control this infection. This is the first report of T. gondii seroprevalence in primary school children in Henan province, central China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Wang
- Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan, PR China
| | - Zhijun Yao
- Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan, PR China
| | - Haoran Li
- Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan, PR China
| | - Pengju Li
- Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan, PR China
| | - Dong Wang
- Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan, PR China
| | - Haizhu Zhang
- Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan, PR China
| | - Qing Xie
- Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan, PR China
| | - Zhenchao Zhang
- Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan, PR China
| | - Xiangrui Li
- Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan, PR China - MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095 Jiangsu, PR China
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