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Kurth K, Jiang T, Muller L, Su C, Gerhold RW. Toxoplasma gondii contamination at an animal agriculture facility: Environmental, agricultural animal, and wildlife contamination indicator evaluation. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2021; 16:191-198. [PMID: 34667717 PMCID: PMC8506965 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.09.009] [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: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite of significant public health importance. We attempted to detect T. gondii contamination and assess advantages and disadvantages of contamination indicators through surveilling soil, wildlife, cats (Felis catus), and cows (Bos taurus) on a farm in Tennessee, U.S. in 2016 and 2017. Twenty-two soil samples were collected from the farm and subjected to oocyst flotation, DNA extraction, and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) targeting 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene to detect and identify T. gondii. Three samples (13.6%) were positive for the parasite; however, T. gondii DNA was not consistently detected from repeated tests. Blood samples were collected from small mammals, cats, and mesopredators live-trapped on the farm, and serum from 30 of the farm's cows were obtained. Serological testing by the modified agglutination test (MAT; cutoff 1:50) found 2.5% (1/40) of small mammals, 52.9% (9/17) of raccoons (Procyon lotor), and 50% (1/2) of domestic cats were seropositive for T. gondii antibodies. No antibodies were found in 16 opossums (Didelphis virginiana), two skunks (Mephitis mephitis), and 30 cows. Small mammal tissue samples were subjected to PCR-RFLP detection. Four out of 29 (13.7%) tissue samples were positive for T. gondii; however, T. gondii DNA was not consistently detected during repeated PCR-RFLP testing. Our results indicate the ability to detect T. gondii varies greatly by contamination indicator. We found detection of soil oocysts to be challenging, and results suggest limited utility of the method performed. The ability to detect T. gondii in animals was highly variable among species. Our research emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach when surveilling for T. gondii to compensate for shortcomings of each contamination indicator. Future research should be conducted to further investigate the most effective T. gondii surveillance methods and species with increased sample sizes at other agricultural facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Kurth
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Tiantian Jiang
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Lisa Muller
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Chunlei Su
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Richard W. Gerhold
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
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de Oliveira PRF, de Melo RPB, Sierra TAO, da Silva RA, da Silva de Oliveira JE, de Almeida BG, Mota RA. Investigation of soil contaminated with Toxoplasma gondii oocyst in urban public environment, in Brazil. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2021; 79:101715. [PMID: 34736127 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2021.101715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we determined the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in soil samples from public places. A total of 120 samples were collected from 24 sites, including squares, parks, university, hospitals in the city of Recife. The recovered oocysts were subjected to a nested-PCR test, and nine sites (9/24) were found to be positive for gene of apicomplexan parasites. The PCR product was sequenced, and 8.33% (10/120) of the samples showed 100% similarity to T. gondii DNA. T. gondii oocysts were detected in 75% (3/4) of the evaluated hospital soil samples and in 23.81% (5/21) soils samples from the public squares and parks. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of the soil in the areas analyzed as a source of T. gondii infection and therefore highlight the importance of devising educational strategies on the use of these sites, in addition to future cleaning protocols in public areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pollyanne Raysa Fernandes de Oliveira
- Departament of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, sn, Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Pernambuco, Brazil.
| | - Renata Pimentel Bandeira de Melo
- Departament of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, sn, Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Tania Alexandra Ortega Sierra
- Departament of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, sn, Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Renato Amorim da Silva
- Departament of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, sn, Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - José Eudes da Silva de Oliveira
- Department of Forestry Science, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, sn, Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Brivaldo Gomes de Almeida
- Department of Forestry Science, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, sn, Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Rinaldo Aparecido Mota
- Departament of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, sn, Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Pernambuco, Brazil
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Andrade MMC, Carneiro VL, Galvão AA, Fonseca TR, Vitor RWA, Alcantara-Neves NM, Cruz ÁA, Figueiredo CA. Toxoplasma gondii protects from IgE sensitization and induces Th1/Th2 immune profile. Parasite Immunol 2020; 42:e12694. [PMID: 31884701 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T gondii) infection has been associated with protection against allergy and autoimmune diseases. We investigated the effects of T gondii infection on cytokine and antibody responses in atopic and nonatopic Brazilian subjects. We have measured in whole-blood cultures, Th1 (IFN-γ and IL-12), Th2 (IL-5) and regulatory cytokine IL-10 in blood cells unstimulated and stimulated with pokeweed mitogen or T gondii soluble tachyzoites antigen (STAg) or Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen. A significant negative association was found between high levels of anti-dust mite IgE and T gondii seropositivity (OR = 0.46; 95%CI = 0.25-0.85). STAg stimulation induced a mixed profile of Th1 and Th2 cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-12 and IL-5) in Tg-positive atopic individuals compared with Tg-negative atopic individuals (P < .0001, P = .033 and P = .003, respectively). In contrast, IL-10 production was not different between these groups. No association was found between T gondii infection and asthma. We hypothesized that the protective effect on atopy might be related to the strong Th1 immune response to T gondii found on the seropositive subjects. From our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the association between atopy and T gondii infection in Brazilian subjects, analysing the cellular immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena M C Andrade
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | - Alana A Galvão
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Thales R Fonseca
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Ricardo W A Vitor
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Álvaro A Cruz
- ProAR - Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Camila A Figueiredo
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
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Sarr A, Galal L, Boumediene F, Hamidović A, Dardé ML, Diallo M, Sow A, Niang Y, Cuny T, Mercier A. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Free-Range Chickens in Senegal, West Africa. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020; 20:15-21. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Amedine Sarr
- INSERM UMR_S 1094, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Lokman Galal
- INSERM UMR_S 1094, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Farid Boumediene
- INSERM UMR_S 1094, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Azra Hamidović
- INSERM UMR_S 1094, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Marie-Laure Dardé
- INSERM UMR_S 1094, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Limoges, Limoges, France
- Centre National de Référence Toxoplasmose/Toxoplasma Biological Resource Center, CHU Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Mamoudou Diallo
- BIOPASS, CBGP-IRD, ISRA, UCAD, Campus de Bel-Air, Dakar, Senegal
- CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Université Montpellier, Montferrier-sur-Lez, Cedex, France
| | - Aliou Sow
- BIOPASS, CBGP-IRD, ISRA, UCAD, Campus de Bel-Air, Dakar, Senegal
- CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Université Montpellier, Montferrier-sur-Lez, Cedex, France
| | - Youssoupha Niang
- BIOPASS, CBGP-IRD, ISRA, UCAD, Campus de Bel-Air, Dakar, Senegal
- CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Université Montpellier, Montferrier-sur-Lez, Cedex, France
| | - Thomas Cuny
- INSERM UMR_S 1094, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Aurélien Mercier
- INSERM UMR_S 1094, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Limoges, Limoges, France
- Centre National de Référence Toxoplasmose/Toxoplasma Biological Resource Center, CHU Limoges, Limoges, France
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Sowemimo OA, Wu TH, Lee YL, Asaolu SO, Chuang TW, Akinwale OP, Badejoko BO, Gyang VP, Nwafor T, Henry E, Fan CK. Toxoplasma gondii: seroprevalence and associated risk factors among preschool-aged children in Osun State, Nigeria. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2019; 112:486-491. [PMID: 30137567 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/try083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii is an ubiquitous apicomplexan parasite, which causes toxoplasmosis in animals and humans worldwide. However, little is known about T. gondii infection among preschool-aged children in Nigeria. Methods A cross-sectional study of 272 preschool children aged 2.25±1.09 years from four communities (Edunabon, Erin-Ijesha, Ijebu-jesa and Ile-Ife) in Osun State, Nigeria was conducted between January and July 2016, and the demographic data was obtained via questionnaires. Antibody titres against T. gondii of serum samples were assessed by ELISA. Results The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 6.9% (19/272). There was no significant difference in seroprevalence of T. gondii infection between boys (7.04%; 10/142) and girls (6.92%; 9/130; p=0.97). No associations were found between age, gender, parental educational level, occupation and religion, and T. gondii seropositivity. None showed statistical significance between the risk factors tested after multivariate adjustment; nevertheless, residing in Ijebu-jesa community was shown to be associated with an increased risk of infection (p=0.04). Conclusion This is the first report of T. gondii infection among preschool children in Nigeria. Prevalence studies such as this could help in the development of strategies for the future for disease prevention and control of T. gondii transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluyomi A Sowemimo
- Department of Zoology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.,Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria
| | - Tsung-Han Wu
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yueh-Lun Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Samuel O Asaolu
- Department of Zoology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State
| | - Ting-Wu Chuang
- Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Olaoluwa P Akinwale
- Molecular Parasitology Research Laboratory, Department of Public Health, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos State
| | | | - Vincent P Gyang
- Molecular Parasitology Research Laboratory, Department of Public Health, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos State
| | - Timothy Nwafor
- Molecular Parasitology Research Laboratory, Department of Public Health, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos State
| | - Emmanuel Henry
- Molecular Parasitology Research Laboratory, Department of Public Health, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos State
| | - Chia-Kwung Fan
- Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Tropical Medicine Division, International PhD Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Macre MDS, Meireles LR, Sampaio BFC, Andrade Júnior HFD. Saliva collection and detection of anti- T. gondii antibodies of low-income school-age children as a learning strategy on hygiene, prevention and transmission of toxoplasmosis. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2019; 61:e48. [PMID: 31531626 PMCID: PMC6746193 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946201961048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
School-age children are a social group in which blood collection for laboratory testing can be perceived as an invasive procedure, with low acceptance and tolerance of stakeholders. This problem could be circumvented by replacing serum samples with saliva. For this purpose, and to make the collection of saliva samples playful and instructive for children, educational activities on hygiene and toxoplasmosis transmission and prevention were performed using toys and audiovisual tools. The target audience consisted of 7-10 year-old children from low-income families who attended public schools in the city of São Paulo. Saliva samples were used in a previously described in-house Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) to detect anti- Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies and establish the immunological status of each of the participants. One year later, children’s memory and fixation of concepts regarding hygiene habits, as well as transmission and prevention of toxoplasmosis were tested in the same schools, by means of a questionnaire application, using students who did not participate in the first intervention as controls. The prevalence of positive anti- T. gondii IgG among students was 50% (82/164). One year later, 45 children had more knowledge on toxoplasmosis (28/45 vs 29/147) and they drew the cat’s involvement in the transmission of toxoplasmosis more often than controls (28/45 vs 29/147). Sorted according to the presence of specific IgG in saliva, recovered positive students presented worse memory of the above cited knowledge as did saliva-negative IgG students, but both groups had isolated higher frequency of fixed knowledge than non-intervened students. Our data show that there is a high prevalence of T. gondii infection in school-children from low-income areas; saliva is an alternative to blood for anti- T. gondii IgG detection; and a one-day educational intervention in school-children was effective in promoting knowledge fixation on hygiene and toxoplasmosis transmission and prevention after one year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam de Souza Macre
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Laboratório de Protozoologia, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luciana Regina Meireles
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Laboratório de Protozoologia, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Barbara Fialho Carvalho Sampaio
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Laboratório de Protozoologia, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Heitor Franco de Andrade Júnior
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Laboratório de Protozoologia, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Shapiro K, Bahia-Oliveira L, Dixon B, Dumètre A, de Wit LA, VanWormer E, Villena I. Environmental transmission of Toxoplasma gondii: Oocysts in water, soil and food. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2019; 15:e00049. [PMID: 32095620 PMCID: PMC7033973 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2019.e00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan parasite that can cause morbidity and mortality in humans, domestic animals, and terrestrial and aquatic wildlife. The environmentally robust oocyst stage of T. gondii is fundamentally critical to the parasite's success, both in terms of its worldwide distribution as well as the extensive range of infected intermediate hosts. Despite the limited definitive host species (domestic and wild felids), infections have been reported on every continent, and in terrestrial as well as aquatic environments. The remarkable resistance of the oocyst wall enables dissemination of T. gondii through watersheds and ecosystems, and long-term persistence in diverse foods such as shellfish and fresh produce. Here, we review the key attributes of oocyst biophysical properties that confer their ability to disseminate and survive in the environment, as well as the epidemiological dynamics of oocyst sources including domestic and wild felids. This manuscript further provides a comprehensive review of the pathways by which T. gondii oocysts can infect animals and people through the environment, including in contaminated foods, water or soil. We conclude by identifying critical control points for reducing risk of exposure to oocysts as well as opportunities for future synergies and new directions for research aimed at reducing the burden of oocyst-borne toxoplasmosis in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Shapiro
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, One Shields Ave, 4206 VM3A, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-5270, USA
| | - Lillian Bahia-Oliveira
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, RJ, Brazil
| | - Brent Dixon
- Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Canada, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, A.L. 2204E, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Aurélien Dumètre
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD 257, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Luz A. de Wit
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95050, USA
| | - Elizabeth VanWormer
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, VBS 111, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Isabelle Villena
- EA 7510, UFR Medicine, University Reims Champagne-Ardenne, National Reference Center on Toxoplasmosis, Hospital Maison Blanche, Reims, France
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Matilla F, Velleman Y, Harrison W, Nevel M. Animal influence on water, sanitation and hygiene measures for zoonosis control at the household level: A systematic literature review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006619. [PMID: 30001331 PMCID: PMC6057674 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neglected zoonotic diseases (NZDs) have a significant impact on the livelihoods of the world's poorest populations, which often lack access to basic services. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes are included among the key strategies for achieving the World Health Organization's 2020 Roadmap for Implementation for control of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). There exists a lack of knowledge regarding the effect of animals on the effectiveness of WASH measures. OBJECTIVES This review looked to identify how animal presence in the household influences the effectiveness of water, hygiene and sanitation measures for zoonotic disease control in low and middle income countries; to identify gaps of knowledge regarding this topic based on the amount and type of studies looking at this particular interaction. METHODS Studies from three databases (Medline, Web of Science and Global Health) were screened through various stages. Selected articles were required to show burden of one or more zoonotic diseases, an animal component and a WASH component. Selected articles were analysed. A narrative synthesis was chosen for the review. RESULTS Only two studies out of 7588 met the inclusion criteria. The studies exemplified how direct or indirect contact between animals and humans within the household can influence the effectiveness of WASH interventions. The analysis also shows the challenges faced by the scientific community to isolate and depict this particular interaction. CONCLUSION The dearth of studies examining animal-WASH interactions is explained by the difficulties associated with studying environmental interventions and the lack of collaboration between the WASH and Veterinary Public Health research communities. Further tailored research under a holistic One Health approach will be required in order to meet the goals set in the NTDs Roadmap and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Matilla
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yael Velleman
- Policy and Campaigns Department, WaterAid, London, United Kingdom
| | - Wendy Harrison
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mandy Nevel
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
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Avelar MV, Martinez VO, Moura DLD, Barros IA, Primo AADS, Duarte AO, Soares NM, Lima FWDM. Association between seroprevalence of IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii and risk factors for infection among pregnant women in Climério de Oliveira Maternity, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2017; 59:e90. [PMID: 29267598 PMCID: PMC5738996 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946201759090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection can lead to spontaneous abortion, fetal malformation, and numerous sequelae in the newborn, including visual and hearing impairment. T. gondii serology was determined in pregnant women and their newborns who were referred to Climério de Oliveira Maternity, Federal University of Bahia, and the possible associations with the risk factors for maternal infection were investigated. This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to December 2014 and included 712 pregnant women, aged 15 to 49 years, and 235 newborns. Seroprevalence was determined by the detection of T. gondii-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) M (IgM) and IgG antibodies using enzyme-linked immunoassay. In addition, mothers completed a questionnaire that focused on socioeconomic aspects, and survey data were tabulated using the SPSS statistical software program (version 21.0 for Windows). The seroprevalence rate for specific IgG antibodies was 51% (362) among mothers and 93% (219) among neonates. All the mothers and their newborns were negative for specific-IgM antibodies. Higher age group and lower maternal education were the only risk factors statistically associated with the presence of specific IgG. In summary, high levels of specific IgG antibodies were observed in pregnant women. The knowledge of risk factors for toxoplasmosis can help in the orientation of newly pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Virginia Avelar
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Serviço de Imunologia das Doenças Infecciosas, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Victor Otero Martinez
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Serviço de Imunologia das Doenças Infecciosas, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Daniel Lima de Moura
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Serviço de Imunologia das Doenças Infecciosas, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Indira Alves Barros
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Serviço de Imunologia das Doenças Infecciosas, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Anderson Alves da Silva Primo
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Serviço de Imunologia das Doenças Infecciosas, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Alan Oliveira Duarte
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Serviço de Imunologia das Doenças Infecciosas, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Neci Matos Soares
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Laboratório de Parasitologia Clínica, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
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Wang ZX, Zhou CX, Elsheikha HM, He S, Zhou DH, Zhu XQ. Proteomic Differences between Developmental Stages of Toxoplasma gondii Revealed by iTRAQ-Based Quantitative Proteomics. Front Microbiol 2017. [PMID: 28626452 PMCID: PMC5454076 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii has a complex two-host life-cycle between intermediate host and definitive host. Understanding proteomic variations across the life-cycle stages of T. gondii may improve the understanding of molecular adaption mechanism of T. gondii across life-cycle stages, and should have implications for the development of new treatment and prevention interventions against T. gondii infection. Here, we utilized LC–MS/MS coupled with iTRAQ labeling technology to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) specific to tachyzoite (T), bradyzoites-containing cyst (C) and sporulated oocyst (O) stages of the cyst-forming T. gondii Prugniuad (Pru) strain. A total of 6285 proteins were identified in the three developmental stages of T. gondii. Our analysis also revealed 875, 656, and 538 DEPs in O vs. T, T vs. C, and C vs. O, respectively. The up- and down-regulated proteins were analyzed by Gene Ontology enrichment, KEGG pathway and STRING analyses. Some virulence-related factors and ribosomal proteins exhibited distinct expression patterns across the life-cycle stages. The virulence factors expressed in sporulated oocysts and the number of up-regulated virulence factors in the cyst stage were about twice as many as in tachyzoites. Of the 79 ribosomal proteins identified in T. gondii, the number of up-regulated ribosomal proteins was 33 and 46 in sporulated oocysts and cysts, respectively, compared with tachyzoites. These results support the hypothesis that oocyst and cystic stages are able to adapt to adverse environmental conditions and selection pressures induced by the host's immune response, respectively. These findings have important implications for understanding of the developmental biology of T. gondii, which may facilitate the discovery of novel therapeutic targets to better control toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze-Xiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesLanzhou, China
| | - Chun-Xue Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesLanzhou, China.,National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural UniversityBeijing, China
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of NottinghamLoughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Shuai He
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesLanzhou, China.,College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural UniversityHefei, China
| | - Dong-Hui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesLanzhou, China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesLanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and ZoonosesYangzhou, China
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11
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Global iTRAQ-based proteomic profiling of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts during sporulation. J Proteomics 2016; 148:12-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2016.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2016] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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12
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de Souza CZ, Rafael K, Sanders AP, Tiyo BT, Marchioro AA, Colli CM, Gomes ML, Falavigna-Guilherme AL. An alternative method to recover Toxoplasma gondii from greenery and fruits. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2016; 26:600-5. [PMID: 27604245 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2016.1227960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii oocysts are an important form of contamination with a high dispersion in the environment, but their detection is still a challenge. This study evaluated the recovery of oocysts from strawberries and crisphead lettuce. Samples (250 g of strawberries or one head of lettuce) were experimentally inoculated with 10, 10(2), 10(3) and 10(4) T. gondii oocysts, by two separate processes, spot dripping and immersion. Then, 50 g of each sample was washed, filtered through a cellulose ester membrane, and concentrated by centrifugation. Three aliquots were taken for DNA extraction in a direct way, after freeze-thaw (FT) cycles or ultrasound (US), followed by PCR (B22-B23 and Tox4-Tox5 primers). The T. gondii DNA was amplified with the primers B22-B23 in all samples contaminated by dripping and when DNA extraction was carried out after FT or US. These techniques may be useful in epidemiological surveillance in the control of this zoonosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Zangari de Souza
- a Department of Basic Health Sciences , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil
- b Environmental Parasitology Laboratory , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil
| | - Katyelle Rafael
- a Department of Basic Health Sciences , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil
- b Environmental Parasitology Laboratory , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Sanders
- a Department of Basic Health Sciences , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil
- b Environmental Parasitology Laboratory , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil
| | - Bruna Tiaki Tiyo
- a Department of Basic Health Sciences , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil
- b Environmental Parasitology Laboratory , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil
| | - Ariella Andrade Marchioro
- a Department of Basic Health Sciences , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil
- b Environmental Parasitology Laboratory , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil
| | - Cristiane Maria Colli
- a Department of Basic Health Sciences , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil
- b Environmental Parasitology Laboratory , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil
| | - Mônica Lúcia Gomes
- a Department of Basic Health Sciences , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil
- b Environmental Parasitology Laboratory , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil
| | - Ana Lúcia Falavigna-Guilherme
- a Department of Basic Health Sciences , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil
- b Environmental Parasitology Laboratory , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil
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Wei HX, He C, Yang PL, Lindsay DS, Peng HJ. Relationship Between Cat Contact and Infection by Toxoplasma gondii in Humans: A Meta-Analysis. COMP PARASITOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1654/1525-2647-83.1.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Xia Wei
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, the People’s Republic of China (e-mail: )
| | - Cheng He
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, the People’s Republic of China (e-mail: )
| | - Pei-Liang Yang
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, the People’s Republic of China (e-mail: )
| | - David S. Lindsay
- Department of Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiology, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Duck Pond Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, U.S.A. (e-mail: )
| | - Hong-Juan Peng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, the People’s Republic of China (e-mail: )
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Gyang VP, Akinwale OP, Lee YL, Chuang TW, Orok A, Ajibaye O, Liao CW, Cheng PC, Chou CM, Huang YC, Fan KH, Fan CK. Toxoplasma gondii infection: seroprevalence and associated risk factors among primary schoolchildren in Lagos City, Southern Nigeria. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2015; 48:56-63. [DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0310-2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2014] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Pam Gyang
- Taipei Medical University, People's Republic of China; Taipei Medical University, People's Republic of China; Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Nigeria
| | | | - Yueh-Lun Lee
- Taipei Medical University, People's Republic of China
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Chia-Mei Chou
- Taipei Medical University, People's Republic of China
| | | | - Kuo-Hua Fan
- Owner & Patent Attorney Zoomlaw IP Attorneys, People's Republic of China; Shih-Hsin University, People's Republic of China
| | - Chia-Kwung Fan
- Taipei Medical University, People's Republic of China; Taipei Medical University, People's Republic of China; Taipei Medical University, People's Republic of China
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Andiappan H, Nissapatorn V, Sawangjaroen N, Nyunt MH, Lau YL, Khaing SL, Aye KM, Mon NCN, Tan TC, Kumar T, Onichandran S, bin Mat Adenan NA. Comparative study on Toxoplasma infection between Malaysian and Myanmar pregnant women. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:564. [PMID: 25498432 PMCID: PMC4297455 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-014-0564-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 11/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, causes a disease called toxoplasmosis which can sometimes be acquired congenitally by a newborn from an infected mother. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection and its associated risks among 219 and 215 pregnant women from Malaysia and Myanmar, respectively. Methods Anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies were screened by using standard commercial ELISA kits. The socio-demographic, obstetrics and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma infection data were compared between the two countries. Results The overall prevalence of Toxoplasma infection in Malaysian pregnant women (42.47%; 95% CI = 36.11-49.09) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than Myanmar pregnant women (30.70%; 95% CI = 27.92-37.16). By univariate analysis, this study identified that age group, education, parity, awareness on toxoplasmosis and consumption of undercooked meat were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with Toxoplasma seropositive Malaysian pregnant women but none of these factors associated with Toxoplasma seropositive Myanmar pregnant women. In comparison using univariate analysis between the two countries, it was found that Toxoplasma seropositive Malaysian pregnant women was associated with aged 30 years and above, secondary or lower-secondary level of education, the third trimester of pregnancy, having one child or more, lacking awareness of toxoplasmosis, absence of bad obstetrics history, having no history of close contact with cats or soil, living on a farm and also consumption of undercooked meat, unpasterized milk or untreated water. Avidity measurement was used to confirm the stages of Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women who were positive for both IgG and IgM antibodies and found all were infected in the past. Conclusion From our study, Toxoplasma screening and its risk measurement in pregnant women is firmly recommended for monitoring purposes and assisting proper management, including diagnosis and treatment during antenatal period. Also, it is necessary to initiate preventive measures for Toxoplasma infection among reproductive-age women in general and seronegative pregnant women in particular. Avidity measurement should be incorporated in Toxoplasma routine screening, especially with the availability of a single serum sample to assist in the diagnosis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-014-0564-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemah Andiappan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Veeranoot Nissapatorn
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Nongyao Sawangjaroen
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand.
| | - Myat Htut Nyunt
- Department of Medical Research (Lower Myanmar), Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Yangon, Myanmar.
| | - Yee-Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Si Lay Khaing
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Khin Myo Aye
- Department of Medical Research (Lower Myanmar), Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Yangon, Myanmar.
| | - Nan Cho Nwe Mon
- Department of Medical Research (Lower Myanmar), Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Yangon, Myanmar.
| | - Tian-Chye Tan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Thulasi Kumar
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Subashini Onichandran
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Noor Azmi bin Mat Adenan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Andiappan H, Nissapatorn V, Sawangjaroen N, Chemoh W, Lau YL, Kumar T, Onichandran S, Suwanrath C, Chandeying V. Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women: a current status in Songklanagarind hospital, southern Thailand. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:239. [PMID: 24886651 PMCID: PMC4035750 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasmosis, being one of the TORCH’s infections in pregnant women, is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite. This parasitic infection in pregnancy congenitally causes severe outcomes to their fetus and newborn. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and stages of Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women and its associated risks exposures. Methods The study was conducted within the pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic (ANC) at Songklanagarind hospital, Hat Yai, Songkhla province, Thailand. The sera of a total of 760 consecutive pregnant women were screened using standard commercial ELISA kits for detection of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. IgG avidity in the seropositive for both anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies were also assessed. The pregnant women’s socio-demographic, obstetrics and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma seropositivity data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results From the total 760 pregnant women, 190 (25%, 95% CI = 22.05-28.20) were positive for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. Of these, 167 (22.0%, 95% CI = 19.0-25.0) were positive for only anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody and 23 (3.0%, 95% CI = 2.0-4.0) were positive for both anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. All these samples were high avidity, indicated the infection occured prior to four to five months. By applying statistical univariate analysis, age group, occupation and sources of drinking water showed a significant association with Toxoplasma seropositivity (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis further indicated that the significant factors associated with Toxoplasma seropositivity are age ≥26 (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.11-2.44), working as laborer (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.13-2.18) and drinking unclean (piped/tap/rain) water (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.08-2.84). Conclusion The pregnant women in the active age group, working as laborers and exposure to unclean drinking water from various sources were at higher risk of Toxoplasma infection. Therefore, health education and the awareness of risk exposures regarding this parasitic disease are required to minimize the effects of this parasitic infection in pregnant women as well as in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Veeranoot Nissapatorn
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia.
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Chiang TY, Kuo MC, Chen CH, Yang JY, Kao CF, Ji DD, Fang CT. Risk factors for acute Toxoplasma gondii diseases in Taiwan: a population-based case-control study. PLoS One 2014; 9:e90880. [PMID: 24609112 PMCID: PMC3946628 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2013] [Accepted: 02/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Although human toxoplasmosis is a notifiable disease in Taiwan since 2007, little is known about its risk factors. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for acute Toxoplasma gondii diseases in Taiwan. We conducted a nationwide population-based case-control study. Cases of acute human toxoplasmosis notified to the Taiwan Centers for Diseases Control (Taipei, Taiwan) during 2008–2013 were compared with controls that were randomly selected from healthy T. gondii-seronegative blood donors who participated in a nationwide T. gondii seroepidemiologic study during 2009–2010. Cases and controls were matched according to age, gender and residency at an 1∶8 ratio. Structured questionnaires were used to gather information regarding risk factors. A total of 30 laboratory-confirmed acute T. gondii disease cases and 224 controls were enrolled. The most common clinical manifestation of the cases was flu-like symptoms (n = 20), followed by central nervous system disease (n = 4), ocular diseases (n = 3), abortion (n = 2), and congenital infection (n = 1). Multivariate conditional logistic regression showed that raw clam consumption (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.4–9.9) and having a cat in the household (adjusted OR = 2.9; 95% CI = 1.1–7.9) were two independent risk factors for acute T. gondii disease. We conclude that raw shellfish consumption and domestic cat exposure were risk factors for acquiring acute T. gondii diseases in Taiwan. This finding may guide future research and control policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Yi Chiang
- Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chu Kuo
- Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Hsun Chen
- Division of HIV/AIDS and TB, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jyh-Yuan Yang
- Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Feng Kao
- Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Dar-Der Ji
- Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Tropical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (DDJ); (CTF)
| | - Chi-Tai Fang
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Ministry of Health and Welfare and National Taiwan University Infectious Diseases Research and Education Center, Taipei, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (DDJ); (CTF)
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Muñoz-Zanzi C, Williams-Nguyen J, Belongia EA. A sero-survey of toxoplasmosis in farm and non-farm children from Wisconsin, United States, 1997-1999. BMC Public Health 2013; 13:837. [PMID: 24025220 PMCID: PMC3847651 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2013] [Accepted: 08/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis is among the most widespread and prevalent zoonosis in the world. People can become infected through ingestion of oocysts shed by felids or of tissue cysts contained in meat from infected animals. Acute infection can result in a wide spectrum of consequences, including flu-like illness and retinitis, as well as congenital infection in pregnant women. Severe disease can occur, especially if people are immunocompromised. Frequency of human infection varies substantially by region due to ecological, social, and cultural factors. The most recent nationwide prevalence estimates in children from United States were 3.6% in 6-11 year olds and 5.8% in 12-19 year olds. Because of the limited knowledge of the occurrence of common zoonotic pathogens in children in the United States, the objective of this study was to estimate the sero-prevalence of T. gondii-specific antibodies in children from the Marshfield area in Wisconsin and to examine the association between sero-positivity and farm living. METHODS Banked sera from 342 Wisconsin children collected in 1997-1999, aged 2 to 18 years, were tested for Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgG antibodies using ELISA. Recorded information included age, sex, and whether the child resided on a farm. Impact of assay accuracy, sensitivity and specificity, on sero-prevalence was examined using Bayesian methods. RESULTS Observed prevalence of T. gondii-specific antibodies was 10.8% (37/347). Adjusting for sensitivity and specificity of the assays yielded a prevalence estimate of 8.0% (95% probability interval: 4%-12.4%). Children living on a farm had a 5 times higher odds of T. gondii-specific antibodies than children not living on a farm (OR=5.08, 95% CI: 2.2-11.6). CONCLUSION Results suggest that even in apparently low-risk populations, the true extent of the infection in children is significant. In this study population, children living on farms were differentially exposed, with earlier and higher infection risk than children not living on farms. Findings highlight the need to increase awareness about toxoplasmosis acquired early in life and to improve our understanding of the ecology of T. gondii in rural environments from developed and developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Muñoz-Zanzi
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South Second St,, Suite 300, 55454 Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
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Abstract
The ability of microorganisms to survive under extreme conditions is closely related to the physicochemical properties of their wall. In the ubiquitous protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, the oocyst stage possesses a bilayered wall that protects the dormant but potentially infective parasites from harsh environmental conditions until their ingestion by the host. None of the common disinfectants are effective in killing the parasite because the oocyst wall acts as a primary barrier to physical and chemical attacks. Here, we address the structure and chemistry of the wall of the T. gondii oocyst by combining wall surface treatments, fluorescence imaging, EM, and measurements of its mechanical characteristics by using atomic force microscopy. Elasticity and indentation measurements indicated that the oocyst wall resembles common plastic materials, based on the Young moduli, E, evaluated by atomic force microscopy. Our study demonstrates that the inner layer is as robust as the bilayered wall itself. Besides wall mechanics, our results suggest important differences regarding the nonspecific adhesive properties of each layer. All together, these findings suggest a key biological role for the oocyst wall mechanics in maintaining the integrity of the T. gondii oocysts in the environment or after exposure to disinfectants, and therefore their potential infectivity to humans and animals.
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VanWormer E, Fritz H, Shapiro K, Mazet JAK, Conrad PA. Molecules to modeling: Toxoplasma gondii oocysts at the human-animal-environment interface. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2013; 36:217-31. [PMID: 23218130 PMCID: PMC3779781 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2012.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2012] [Revised: 10/17/2012] [Accepted: 10/22/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Environmental transmission of extremely resistant Toxoplasma gondii oocysts has resulted in infection of diverse species around the world, leading to severe disease and deaths in human and animal populations. This review explores T. gondii oocyst shedding, survival, and transmission, emphasizing the importance of linking laboratory and landscape from molecular characterization of oocysts to watershed-level models of oocyst loading and transport in terrestrial and aquatic systems. Building on discipline-specific studies, a One Health approach incorporating tools and perspectives from diverse fields and stakeholders has contributed to an advanced understanding of T. gondii and is addressing transmission at the rapidly changing human-animal-environment interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth VanWormer
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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Fan CK, Lee LW, Liao CW, Huang YC, Lee YL, Chang YT, da Costa ÂDSRJ, Gil V, Chi LH, Nara T, Tsubouchi A, Akinwale OP. Toxoplasma gondii infection: relationship between seroprevalence and risk factors among primary schoolchildren in the capital areas of Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, West Africa. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:141. [PMID: 22794195 PMCID: PMC3425088 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2012] [Accepted: 05/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The status of Toxoplasma gondii infection among primary schoolchildren (PSC) of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (DRSTP), West Africa, remains unknown to date. Methods A serologic survey and risk factors associated T. gondii infection among PSC in the DRSTP was assessed by the latex agglutination (LA) test and a questionnaire interview including parents’ occupation, various uncomfortable symptoms, histories of eating raw or undercooked food, drinking unboiled water, and raising pets, was conducted in October 2010. Schoolchildren from 4 primary schools located in the capital areas were selected, in total 255 serum samples were obtained by venipuncture, of which 123 serum samples were obtained from boys (9.8 ± 1.4 yrs) and 132 serum samples were obtained from girls (9.7 ± 1.3 yrs). Results The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 63.1% (161/255). No significant gender difference in seroprevalence was found between boys (62.6%, 77/123) and girls (63.6%, 84/132) (p = 0.9). The older age group of 10 years had insignificantly higher seroprevalence (69.9%, 58/83) than that of the younger age group of 8 year olds (67.7%, 21/31) (p = 0.8). It was noteworthy that the majority of seropositive PSC (75.8%, 122/161) had high LA titers of ≥1: 1024, indirectly indicating acute or repeated Toxoplasma infection. Parents whose jobs were non-skilled workers (73.1%) showed significantly higher seroprevalence than that of semiskilled- (53.9%) or skilled workers (48.8%) (p < 0.05). Children who had a history of raising cats also showed significantly higher seroprevalence than those who did not (p < 0.001). Children who claimed to have had recent ocular manifestation or headache, i.e. within 1 month, seemed to have insignificantly higher seroprevalence than those who did not (p > 0.05). Conclusions Parents’ educational level and cats kept indoors seemed to be the high risk factors for PSC in acquisition of T. gondii infection. While, ocular manifestation and/or headache of PSC should be checked for the possibility of being T. gondii elicited. Measures such as improving environmental hygiene and intensive educational intervention to both PSC and their parents should be performed immediately so as to reduce T. gondii infection of DRSTP inhabitants including PSC and adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Kwung Fan
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing St, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
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Toxoplasmosis in humans and animals in Brazil: high prevalence, high burden of disease, and epidemiology. Parasitology 2012; 139:1375-424. [PMID: 22776427 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182012000765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 336] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Infections by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii are widely prevalent in humans and animals in Brazil. The burden of clinical toxoplasmosis in humans is considered to be very high. The high prevalence and encouragement of the Brazilian Government provides a unique opportunity for international groups to study the epidemiology and control of toxoplasmosis in Brazil. Many early papers on toxoplasmosis in Brazil were published in Portuguese and often not available to scientists in English-speaking countries. In the present paper we review prevalence, clinical spectrum, molecular epidemiology, and control of T. gondii in humans and animals in Brazil. This knowledge should be useful to biologists, public health workers, veterinarians, and physicians. Brazil has a very high rate of T. gondii infection in humans. Up to 50% of elementary school children and 50-80% of women of child-bearing age have antibodies to T. gondii. The risks for uninfected women to acquire toxoplasmosis during pregnancy and fetal transmission are high because the environment is highly contaminated with oocysts. The burden of toxoplasmosis in congenitally infected children is also very high. From limited data on screening of infants for T. gondii IgM at birth, 5-23 children are born infected per 10 000 live births in Brazil. Based on an estimate of 1 infected child per 1000 births, 2649 children with congenital toxoplasmosis are likely to be born annually in Brazil. Most of these infected children are likely to develop symptoms or signs of clinical toxoplasmosis. Among the congenitally infected children whose clinical data are described in this review, several died soon after birth, 35% had neurological disease including hydrocephalus, microcephaly and mental retardation, 80% had ocular lesions, and in one report 40% of children had hearing loss. The severity of clinical toxoplasmosis in Brazilian children may be associated with the genetic characteristics of T. gondii isolates prevailing in animals and humans in Brazil.
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