1
|
Migratory Wild Birds as Potential Long-Distance Transmitters of Toxoplasma gondii Infection. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12030478. [PMID: 36986400 PMCID: PMC10051421 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12030478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a worldwide distributed zoonotic protozoan capable of infecting a wide range of mammals (including humans) and birds as intermediate hosts. Migratory wild birds, through interconnecting countries along their flyways, can play a role in the spatial spread of T. gondii and could contribute to its sylvatic cycle. Additionally, hunted wild birds used for meat consumption could represent a further source of human infection. To determine the presence of T. gondii in wild birds, a total of 50 individuals belonging to the Anseriformes and Charadriiformes orders were sampled during the 2021–2022 hunting season in Northern Italy. Cardiac muscle samples of three Northern shovelers (Anas clypeata), two wild mallards (A. platyrhynchos), one Eurasian teal (A. crecca), and one Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) were positive for the molecular detection of T. gondii based on a targeted amplification of the B1 gene. A 14% (7/50) overall positivity was observed in the sampled population. Results from this study suggest a moderate exposure of wild aquatic birds to T. gondii, highlighting the importance of a further characterization of T. gondii in its wildlife hosts.
Collapse
|
2
|
de Barros RAM, Torrecilhas AC, Marciano MAM, Mazuz ML, Pereira-Chioccola VL, Fux B. Toxoplasmosis in Human and Animals Around the World. Diagnosis and Perspectives in the One Health Approach. Acta Trop 2022; 231:106432. [PMID: 35390311 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a unique health disease that significantly affects the health of humans, domestic animals, wildlife and is present in ecosystems, including water, soil and food. Toxoplasma gondii is one of the best-adapted parasites in the word. This parasite is able to persist for long periods in its hosts, in different geographic regions of the word. This review summarizes the current literature of these themes, focusing on: (1) toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic infection; (2) One health approach and toxoplasmosis; (3) human toxoplasmosis; (4) animal toxoplasmosis; (5) toxoplasmosis diagnosis, as immunological, parasitological and molecular diagnosis; (6) T. gondii outbreaks caused by infected meat, milk and dairy products, as well as, vegetables and water consume; (7) studies in experimental models; (8) genetic characterization of T. gondii strains; (9) extracellular vesicles and miRNA; and (10) future perspectives on T. gondii and toxoplasmosis. The vast prevalence of toxoplasmosis in both humans and animals and the dispersion and resistence of T. gondii parasites in environment highlight the importance of the one health approach in diagnostic and control of the disease. Here the different aspects of the one health approach are presented and discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosangela Aparecida Müller de Barros
- Unidade de Medicina Tropical, Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil.; Programa em Doenças Infecciosas, Centro de Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil..
| | - Ana Claudia Torrecilhas
- Laboratório de Imunologia Celular e Bioquímica de Fungos e Protozoários, Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Campus Diadema, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil..
| | | | - Monica Leszkowicz Mazuz
- Parasitology Division, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Israeli Veterinary Service and Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Beit Dagan, 5025000, Israel..
| | | | - Blima Fux
- Unidade de Medicina Tropical, Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil.; Programa em Doenças Infecciosas, Centro de Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil..
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
López Ureña NM, Chaudhry U, Calero Bernal R, Cano Alsua S, Messina D, Evangelista F, Betson M, Lalle M, Jokelainen P, Ortega Mora LM, Álvarez García G. Contamination of Soil, Water, Fresh Produce, and Bivalve Mollusks with Toxoplasma gondii Oocysts: A Systematic Review. Microorganisms 2022; 10:517. [PMID: 35336093 PMCID: PMC8954419 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a major foodborne pathogen capable of infecting all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Although oocyst-associated toxoplasmosis outbreaks have been documented, the relevance of the environmental transmission route remains poorly investigated. Thus, we carried out an extensive systematic review on T. gondii oocyst contamination of soil, water, fresh produce, and mollusk bivalves, following the PRISMA guidelines. Studies published up to the end of 2020 were searched for in public databases and screened. The reference sections of the selected articles were examined to identify additional studies. A total of 102 out of 3201 articles were selected: 34 articles focused on soil, 40 focused on water, 23 focused on fresh produce (vegetables/fruits), and 21 focused on bivalve mollusks. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were found in all matrices worldwide, with detection rates ranging from 0.09% (1/1109) to 100% (8/8) using bioassay or PCR-based detection methods. There was a high heterogeneity (I2 = 98.9%), which was influenced by both the sampling strategy (e.g., sampling site and sample type, sample composition, sample origin, season, number of samples, cat presence) and methodology (recovery and detection methods). Harmonized approaches are needed for the detection of T. gondii in different environmental matrices in order to obtain robust and comparable results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nadia María López Ureña
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (N.M.L.U.); (R.C.B.); (L.M.O.M.)
| | - Umer Chaudhry
- Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; (U.C.); or (D.M.); (F.E.); (M.B.)
| | - Rafael Calero Bernal
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (N.M.L.U.); (R.C.B.); (L.M.O.M.)
| | - Santiago Cano Alsua
- Computing Services, Research Support Center, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Davide Messina
- Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; (U.C.); or (D.M.); (F.E.); (M.B.)
- Division of Veterinary Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Francisco Evangelista
- Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; (U.C.); or (D.M.); (F.E.); (M.B.)
| | - Martha Betson
- Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; (U.C.); or (D.M.); (F.E.); (M.B.)
| | - Marco Lalle
- Unit of Foodborne and Neglected Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Roma, Italy;
| | - Pikka Jokelainen
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institute, University of Copenhagen, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega Mora
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (N.M.L.U.); (R.C.B.); (L.M.O.M.)
| | - Gema Álvarez García
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (N.M.L.U.); (R.C.B.); (L.M.O.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Epidemiology of Toxoplasmosis in SERBIA: A Cross-Sectional Study on Blood Donors. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10030492. [PMID: 35336068 PMCID: PMC8948843 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a globally distributed parasitic zoonosis, affecting approximately one third of the human population. Epidemiological studies on toxoplasmosis conducted in Serbia so far have been focused on women of childbearing age, without a clear insight into the prevalence in the general population. We conducted a cross-sectional study in a representative sample of the healthy adult population consisting of 1095 blood donors of both genders to establish the prevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection. Data on the demographic and clinical characteristics of all study participants, as well as on their lifestyle habits, were collected by means of a questionnaire. The overall prevalence of infection was 20.5% (224/1095) and the avidity of the specific IgG antibodies detected was high in a vast majority of the seropositive donors (98.2%). Interestingly, the remaining 1.8% of the specific IgG positive samples were of borderline avidity (4/224), in complete absence of specific IgM. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that independent risk factors included age (from OR (95% CI) 1.9 (1.13−3.28) in the 30−39 age group, to 6.8 (3.27−14.24) in the age group of >60 years), suburban living (OR (95% CI) 2.2 (1.43−3.34)) and contact with soil (OR (95% CI) 1.4 (1.01−1.94)). This first large-scale study on toxoplasmosis in the general population in Serbia shows the lowest prevalence ever reported in this country. Moreover, the novel perspective on risk factors provides an updated basis for future prevention programs.
Collapse
|
5
|
Shamaev ND, Shuralev EA, Nikitin OV, Mukminov MN, Davidyuk YN, Belyaev AN, Isaeva GS, Ziatdinov VB, Khammadov NI, Safina RF, Salmanova GR, Akhmedova GM, Khaertynov KS, Saito T, Kitoh K, Takashima Y. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among small mammals in Tatarstan, Russian Federation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22184. [PMID: 34772977 PMCID: PMC8589860 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01582-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite with a wide host range that includes humans, domestic animals and wild animals. Small mammals serve as intermediate hosts for T. gondii and may contribute to the persistence of this parasite in the environment. Mass mortality in wild animals and deaths in rare endemic species make the study of this parasite of growing importance. In this study, T. gondii infection prevalence was evaluated in brain tissues from 474 small mammals captured at 26 trapping points in urban and rural areas of Tatarstan, Russian Federation. Nested PCR was used to detect the T. gondii B1 gene in the samples. Overall, 40/474 samples (8.44%) showed B1 gene positivity. T. gondii infection among the wild small mammals trapped in the rural area was significantly higher as a whole than that of the urban area as a whole. Multivariate logistical regression analysis also showed that the trapping area (rural or urban) significantly contributed to T. gondii positivity. Vegetation in the trapping points, small mammal species, sex, age or distance from the trapping points to the nearest human settlements did not significantly affect T. gondii positivity in the sampled small mammals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikolai D Shamaev
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420008
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
| | - Eduard A Shuralev
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420008
- Kazan State Medical Academy - Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, 36 Butlerova St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420012
- Kazan State Academy of Veterinary Medicine by N.E. Bauman, 35 Sibirskiy Trakt St., Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420029
| | - Oleg V Nikitin
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420008
| | - Malik N Mukminov
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420008
- Kazan State Medical Academy - Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, 36 Butlerova St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420012
| | - Yuriy N Davidyuk
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420008
| | - Alexander N Belyaev
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420008
| | - Guzel Sh Isaeva
- Kazan Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Rospotrebnadzor, 67 Bolshaya Krasnaya, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420015
- Department of Microbiology, Kazan State Medical University, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420012
| | - Vasil B Ziatdinov
- Kazan Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Rospotrebnadzor, 67 Bolshaya Krasnaya, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420015
| | - Nail I Khammadov
- Federal Center for Toxicological, Radiation and Biological Safety, Nauchniy Gorodok-2, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420075
- Kazan State Academy of Veterinary Medicine by N.E. Bauman, 35 Sibirskiy Trakt St., Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420029
| | - Regina F Safina
- Federal Center for Toxicological, Radiation and Biological Safety, Nauchniy Gorodok-2, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420075
| | - Gaysha R Salmanova
- Federal Center for Toxicological, Radiation and Biological Safety, Nauchniy Gorodok-2, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420075
| | - Guzel M Akhmedova
- Kazan State Medical Academy - Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, 36 Butlerova St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420012
| | - Kamil S Khaertynov
- Kazan State Medical Academy - Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, 36 Butlerova St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420012
- Federal Center for Toxicological, Radiation and Biological Safety, Nauchniy Gorodok-2, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420075
| | - Taizo Saito
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
| | - Katsuya Kitoh
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Applied Biological Science, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Takashima
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan.
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan.
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Applied Biological Science, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Pikus E, Włodarczyk R, Jedlikowski J, Minias P. Urbanization processes drive divergence at the major histocompatibility complex in a common waterbird. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12264. [PMID: 34707940 PMCID: PMC8500109 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Urban sprawl is one of the most common landscape alterations occurring worldwide, and there is a growing list of species that are recognised to have adapted to urban life. To be successful, processes of urban colonization by wildlife require a broad spectrum of phenotypic (e.g., behavioural or physiological) adjustments, but evidence for genetic adaptations is much scarcer. One hypothesis proposes that different pathogen-driven selective pressures between urban and non-urban landscapes leads to adaptations in host immune genes. Here, we examined urbanization-related differentiation at the key pathogen-recognition genes of vertebrate adaptive immunity-the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-in a common waterbird, the Eurasian coot (Fulica atra). Samples were collected from an old urban population (established before the 1950s), a new urban population (established in the 2000s), and two rural populations from central Poland. We found strong significant divergence (as measured with Jost's D) at the MHC class II between the old urban population and the remaining (new urban and rural) populations. Also, there was a moderate, but significant divergence at the MHC between the new urban population and two rural populations, while no divergence was found between the two rural populations. The total number of MHC alleles and the number of private (population-specific) MHC alleles was lower in old urban populations, as compared to the rural ones. These patterns of differentiation at the MHC were not consistent with patterns found for neutral genetic markers (microsatellites), which showed few differences between the populations. Our results indicate that MHC allele composition depended on the level of anthropogenic disturbance and the time which passed since urban colonization, possibly due to the processes of genotype sorting and local adaptation. As such, our study contributes to the understanding of genetic mechanisms associated with urbanization processes in wildlife.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Pikus
- Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | - Radosław Włodarczyk
- Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | - Jan Jedlikowski
- Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Minias
- Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Nayeri T, Sarvi S, Sharif M, Daryani A. Toxoplasma gondii: A possible etiologic agent for Alzheimer's disease. Heliyon 2021; 7:e07151. [PMID: 34141920 PMCID: PMC8187970 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is one of the most pervasive neurotropic pathogens causing different lesions in a wide variety of mammals as intermediate hosts, including humans. It is estimated that one-third of the world population is infected with T. gondii; however, for a long time, there has been much interest in the examination of the possible role of this parasite in the development of mental disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). T. gondii may play a role in the progression of AD using mechanisms, such as the induction of the host's immune responses, inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS), alteration in the levels of neurotransmitters, and activation of indoleamine-2,3-dyoxigenase. This paper presents an appraisal of the literature, reports, and studies that seek to the possible role of T. gondii in the development of AD. For achieving the purpose of the current study, a search of six English databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, and Google Scholar) was performed. The results support the involvement of T. gondii in the induction and development of AD. Indeed, T. gondii can be considered a risk factor for the development of AD and requires the special attention of specialists and patients. Furthermore, the results of this study may contribute to prevent or delay the progress of AD worldwide. Therefore, it is required to carry out further studies in order to better perceive the parasitic mechanisms in the progression of AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tooran Nayeri
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Shahabeddin Sarvi
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mehdi Sharif
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Ahmad Daryani
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Wild Rats ( Rattus rattus) in Northern Iran. Vet Med Int 2021; 2021:6655696. [PMID: 34136114 PMCID: PMC8175164 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6655696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodents are considered as reservoir hosts for various pathogens (such as Toxoplasma gondii) and have been revealed to play an important role in the spread of several infectious diseases to humans and other animals. The aim of this investigation was to survey the prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies in wild rats in Northern Iran. One hundred rats were caught using rat traps set in different areas in Northern Iran (September 2017). The thoracic cavity of each rat was opened, and then the blood sample was collected from the heart. IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were detected using the modified agglutination test (MAT) with a cutoff value equal to 1 : 40. Overall, 56% of rats were infected by T. gondii. Considering the sex of rats, 45% of male and 55% of female rats were seropositive, but the differences were not statistically significant. There was a significant difference between seropositivity and habitat types and age of rodents. Our findings have public health implications and confirm the high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in northern Iran. The study established that wild rats represent an important and persistent wildlife intermediate host reservoir for T. gondii.
Collapse
|
9
|
Kankova S, Bicikova M, Macova L, Hlavacova J, Sykorova K, Jandova D, Flegr J. Latent toxoplasmosis and vitamin D concentration in humans: three observational studies. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2021; 68. [PMID: 33762474 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2021.005] [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: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Numerous recent studies show that vitamin D deficiency potentiates various chronic physical and psychiatric disorders and diseases. It has been shown that a similar range of disorders is also associated with latent infection with Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908). For instance, among cancer, diabetes and schizophrenia patients, we find a higher prevalence of both toxoplasmosis and vitamin D deficiency. Theoretically, therefore, vitamin D deficiency could be the missing link between toxoplasmosis and these disorders. We tested this hypothesis by searching for decreased vitamin D levels in the serum of subjects infected with T. gondii (furthermore called Toxoplasma-infected subjects) in two cross-sectional and one case-control study. Results of the first cross-sectional study (N = 72) suggest that Toxoplasma-infected neurasthenic patients have non-significantly lower levels of calcidiol than Toxoplasma-free patients (study A: P = 0.26 in women, P = 0.68 in men). However, two other studies (study B: N = 400; study C: N = 191) showed a non-significantly higher concentration of vitamin D in Toxoplasma-infected subjects than in Toxoplasma-free subjects both in men (study B: P = 0.70, study C: P = 0.55) and in women (study B: P = 0.64, study C: P = 0.12). Taken together, our preliminary results thus do not support the hypothesis that toxoplasmosis could be associated with vitamin D decrease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarka Kankova
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.,Applied Neurosciences and Brain Imaging, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Jana Hlavacova
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Sykorova
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Jaroslav Flegr
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.,Applied Neurosciences and Brain Imaging, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Chiang SH, Huang HH, Chou CC, Chu CS, Shih WL, Lai JM, Lin HC, Yang WC, Lee HH, Tsai YL, Su YC. Epidemiological survey of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infections in dairy goats in Central-Southern Taiwan. J Vet Med Sci 2020; 82:1537-1544. [PMID: 32893199 PMCID: PMC7653309 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.20-0116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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 and Neospora caninum are intracellular protozoan parasites that cause reproductive disorders in ruminants and humans. Information on the risk factors of T. gondii and N. caninum infections in goats is very limited in Taiwan. The aim of the study was to investigate the epidemiology and identify the risk factors of these two infections in goats. A total of 630 caprine sera were collected from 42 dairy goat farms and the owners were interviewed by a structured questionnaire. The apparent seroprevalences of T. gondii in farm- and individual- levels were respectively 88.1% and 32.22%, while those of N. caninum were 19.05% and 2.54%, respectively. Toxoplasma gondii B1 gene was identified in 7 feed samples and 8 from the water samples whereas N. caninum was not found. Wooden flooring was the main risk factor for T. gondii infection while the frequency of visits by staff to other farms and the breed of goat were risk factors for N. caninum. The improvement of flooring materials or thorough cleaning, periodic disinfection and maintenance of dryness on the floor are highly recommended for the prevention of T. gondii infection in farmed goats. In addition, unnecessary visits to other farms should be limited to prevent the spread of N. caninum. These factors should be highlighted for the prevention of T. gondii and N. caninum in goats, particularly when raised in intensive housing system with flooring on height.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shou-Heng Chiang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chiayi University, No. 580 Xinmin Rd., Chiayi City 60054, Taiwan
| | - Han Hsiang Huang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chiayi University, No. 580 Xinmin Rd., Chiayi City 60054, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Chung Chou
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, No. 250, Kuo Kuang Rd., Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Shih Chu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biopharmaceuticals, National Chiayi University, No. 300 Syuefu Rd., Chiayi City 60004, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Ling Shih
- >Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, No.1, Shuefu Rd., Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
| | - Jyh-Mirn Lai
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chiayi University, No. 580 Xinmin Rd., Chiayi City 60054, Taiwan
| | - Heng-Ching Lin
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chiayi University, No. 580 Xinmin Rd., Chiayi City 60054, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Cheng Yang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, No.1, Sec. 4, Rooservelt Rd, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Hsu-Hsun Lee
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, No.1, Shuefu Rd., Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Lun Tsai
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, No.1, Shuefu Rd., Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Chi Su
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chiayi University, No. 580 Xinmin Rd., Chiayi City 60054, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Galeh TM, Sarvi S, Montazeri M, Moosazadeh M, Nakhaei M, Shariatzadeh SA, Daryani A. Global Status of Toxoplasma gondii Seroprevalence in Rodents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:461. [PMID: 32851037 PMCID: PMC7411222 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most prevalent infections in humans and animals caused by the intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). Rodents, as intermediate and reservoir hosts, play a key role in the maintenance and transmission of T. gondii. They can be contaminated and maintain the parasite in the form of cysts in their bodies, demonstrating an infection source for their offsprings, predators (particularly felids), and other animals. Therefore, the present systematic review and meta-analysis study was carried out to evaluate the global seroprevalence of T. gondii in these mammals. For achieving the purpose of the current study, six English databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, and Google Scholar) were systematically searched for related studies from 1970 to 2018. Finally, a total of 52,372 records were screened, 105 records including 26,221 rodents were incorporated in the present study. By random effect models, the overall seroprevalence was calculated at 6% (95% CI = 6-7%), with the highest amount was observed in Africa (24%) and South America (18%), and the lowest amount in Europe (1%). The subgroup data analysis by gender manifested that the prevalence of Immunoglobulin G antibodies did not differ between genders (P > 0.05). Due to the significant heterogeneity, meta-regression models were applied based on serological techniques and continental regions; however, the obtained values were not statistically significant (P = 0.480 and P = 0.295, respectively). The present study revealed a relatively low level of T. gondii seroprevalence in rodents; however, if they were the main food source for their predators, they would cause high transmission of T. gondii.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Mikaeili Galeh
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Shahabeddin Sarvi
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mahbobeh Montazeri
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Fatemeh Zahra Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Sari, Iran
| | - Mahmood Moosazadeh
- Health Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Maryam Nakhaei
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Seyyed Ali Shariatzadeh
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Ahmad Daryani
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Simon J, Kurdzielewicz S, Jeanniot E, Dupuis E, Marnef F, Aubert D, Villena I, Poulle ML. Spatial distribution of soil contaminated with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in relation to the distribution and use of domestic cat defecation sites on dairy farms. Int J Parasitol 2017; 47:357-367. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
14
|
Rengifo-Herrera C, Pile E, García A, Pérez A, Pérez D, Nguyen FK, de la Guardia V, Mcleod R, Caballero Z. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic pets from metropolitan regions of Panama. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 24:9. [PMID: 28287391 PMCID: PMC5364778 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2017009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease but information regarding domestic animals in Central America is scarce and fragmented. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic cats and dogs in different metropolitan regions of Panama. A total of 576 samples were collected; sera from 120 cats and 456 dogs were tested using a commercial indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The overall seroprevalence of IgG antibodies was 30.73%. There is high seroprevalence of T. gondii in cats and dogs in the metropolitan regions around the Panama Canal; however, differences between these species were not significant. Statistical analysis indicated that there are relevant variables, such as the age of animals, with a direct positive relationship with seroprevalence. None of the variables related to animal welfare (veterinary attention provided, type of dwelling, and access to green areas and drinking water) were associated with seropositivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Rengifo-Herrera
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad de Panamá. Campus Harmodio Árias Madrid (Curundu), Apartado 3366, Panama 4, Panama - Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular de Enfermedades, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología, Asociación de Interés Público (INDICASAT). Ciudad del Saber (Clayton), Apartado 0843-01103, Panama 4, Panama - National Research System, National Secretary of Science, Technology and Innovation (SNI-SENACYT). Ciudad del Saber (Clayton), Apartado 0816-02852, Panama 5, Panama
| | - Edwin Pile
- Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular de Enfermedades, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología, Asociación de Interés Público (INDICASAT). Ciudad del Saber (Clayton), Apartado 0843-01103, Panama 4, Panama - National Research System, National Secretary of Science, Technology and Innovation (SNI-SENACYT). Ciudad del Saber (Clayton), Apartado 0816-02852, Panama 5, Panama
| | - Anabel García
- Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular de Enfermedades, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología, Asociación de Interés Público (INDICASAT). Ciudad del Saber (Clayton), Apartado 0843-01103, Panama 4, Panama
| | - Alexander Pérez
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad de Panamá. Campus Harmodio Árias Madrid (Curundu), Apartado 3366, Panama 4, Panama - Fundación San Francisco de Asís (Fundasis), Apartado 0816-04057, Panama
| | - Dimas Pérez
- Fundación San Francisco de Asís (Fundasis), Apartado 0816-04057, Panama
| | - Felicia K Nguyen
- Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular de Enfermedades, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología, Asociación de Interés Público (INDICASAT). Ciudad del Saber (Clayton), Apartado 0843-01103, Panama 4, Panama - Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Valli de la Guardia
- Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular de Enfermedades, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología, Asociación de Interés Público (INDICASAT). Ciudad del Saber (Clayton), Apartado 0843-01103, Panama 4, Panama
| | - Rima Mcleod
- Toxoplasmosis Center, University of Chicago Medicine, 5841 South Maryland ave, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Zuleima Caballero
- Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular de Enfermedades, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología, Asociación de Interés Público (INDICASAT). Ciudad del Saber (Clayton), Apartado 0843-01103, Panama 4, Panama
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Gao YM, Ding H, Lamberton PHL, Lu DB. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in pet dogs in mainland China: A meta-analysis. Vet Parasitol 2016; 229:126-130. [PMID: 27809967 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2015] [Revised: 09/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is one of the most common zoonosis in the world, and can cause severe adverse consequences in pregnant women and immunosuppressed people. Throughout the world dogs are popular companion animals, however they are also important intermediate host of T. gondii and may play an instrumental role in mechanically transmitting Toxoplasma infection to humans. Therefore, an assessment of the level of T. gondii infection in pet dogs is of public health importance. To estimate the overall serological prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pet dogs in mainland China, we performed a meta-analysis using five bibliographic databases: CNKI, WanFang, VIP Chinese Journal Databases, PubMed and Google Scholar. A total of 60 articles, including data on 78719 pet dogs, published between 1998 and 2016 fulfilled the final eligibility criteria. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in pet dogs was 11.1% (95% CI: 10.1% to 12.1%). The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in >one-year-old dogs was 1.59 times more than that in ≤one-year-old group (RR=1.59, 95%CI=1.15, 2.21). There was no significant difference observed in pooled seroprevalence between male and female dogs (RR=1.02, 95%CI=0.91, 1.16). In terms of geographical regions, the lowest seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis infection (5.8%) was in North China and the highest (16.8%) was in Southwest of China. Results from this study showed that toxoplasmosis is common in pet dogs in mainland China, indicating that control measures by owners may reduce human exposure to T. gondii via dog contacts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Meng Gao
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, School of Public Health, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Huan Ding
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, School of Public Health, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Poppy H L Lamberton
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, GLQQ, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom.
| | - Da-Bing Lu
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, School of Public Health, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Klauck V, Pazinato R, Radavelli WM, Custódio E, Bianchi AE, Camillo G, Cezar AS, Vogel FF, Tonin AA, Ferreira R, Stefani LM, Da Silva AS. Toxoplasma gondii infection in dairy ewes: Vertical transmission and influence on milk production and reproductive performance. Microb Pathog 2016; 99:101-105. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2016.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2016] [Revised: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
|
17
|
Ruffolo BB, Toledo RDS, Martins FDC, Bugni FM, Costa LD, Marana ERM, Navarro IT, Garcia JL, Su C, Freire RL. ISOLATION AND GENOTYPING OF Toxoplasma gondii IN SERONEGATIVE URBAN RATS AND PRESENCE OF ANTIBODIES IN COMMUNICATING DOGS IN BRAZIL. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2016; 58:28. [PMID: 27074322 PMCID: PMC4826081 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946201658028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of rodents in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis was investigated in
Londrina, Paraná State, Brazil. One hundred and
eighty-one Rattus rattus and one Mus musculus were
caught in 37 places. Blood and tissues were collected and submitted to the indirect
fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and the bioassay. Serum samples from 61 contacting
dogs were also collected. Sixteen rats (8.8%) were positive for Toxoplasma
gondii, but just two of them were positive by serology and bioassay test.
Antibodies were found in nine (4.9%) rats. Tissues of nine rats bioassayed were
positive and four isolates were obtained. Restriction fragment length polymorphism
(RFLP) analysis was performed using 12 markers (SAG1, SAG2, SAG2-alt, C22-8, C29-2,
L358, PK1, BTUB, GRA6, SAG3, Apico, CS3). Genotyping revealed that the four strains
isolated from this study have been isolated before in cats and chickens from Brazil.
None of the isolates was identified like clonal archetypal T-types I, II, and III.
The rats presented lower serologic Toxoplasma gondii prevalence
(8.8%) compared to contacting dogs (70.5%).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Bergamo Ruffolo
- Programa de pós-graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil, , , , ,
| | - Roberta dos Santos Toledo
- Programa de pós-graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil, , , , ,
| | | | - Felipe Monteiro Bugni
- Programa de pós-graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil, , , , ,
| | - Letícia da Costa
- Programa de pós-graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil, , , , ,
| | - Elizabete Regina Marangoni Marana
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil, , , ,
| | - Italmar Teodorico Navarro
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil, , , ,
| | - João Luis Garcia
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil, , , ,
| | - Chunlei Su
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States,
| | - Roberta Lemos Freire
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil, , , ,
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Impact of environmental factors on the emergence, transmission and distribution of Toxoplasma gondii. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:137. [PMID: 26965989 PMCID: PMC4785633 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1432-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan that poses a great threat to human health and economic well-being worldwide. The effects of environmental factors such as changing climate and human activities on the ecology of this protozoan are being discovered. Accumulated evidence shows that changes of these environmental factors can exert influence on the occurrence, transmission and distribution of T. gondii. This article reviews studies from different geographical regions with varying climates, social cultures and animal welfare standards. It aims to illustrate how these environmental factors work, highlighting their importance in influencing the ecology of T. gondii, as well as providing clues which may contribute to preventing transmission of this important zoonotic pathogen.
Collapse
|
19
|
Comparison of Toxoplasma gondii Seroprevalence in Shelter Cats and Dogs during 1999-2001 and 2009-2011 in Tokyo, Japan. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135956. [PMID: 26284780 PMCID: PMC4540423 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an important human health concern with respect to abortion, congenital hydrocephalus, and encephalitis in immunocompromised people. Cats and dogs both are potential sources of T. gondii because they have close contact with humans. However, no epidemiological surveys have been conducted in Tokyo over the past decade. Therefore, the present study investigated and compared the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in shelter cats and dogs during 1999–2001 and 2009–2011 in Tokyo, Japan. Serum samples were collected from 337 shelter cats and 325 shelter dogs in urban and suburban areas of Tokyo, during 1999–2001 (233 cats and 219 dogs) and 2009–2011 (104 cats and 106 dogs). T. gondii antibodies were measured in the serum samples using a commercial latex agglutination test. Data were compared using the Fisher’s exact test, and significance was indicated at P < 0.05. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in cats was 5.6% (13 of 233) in 1999–2001 and 6.7% (7 of 104) in 2009–2011, and that in dogs was 1.8% (4 of 219) and 1.9% (2 of 106), respectively. Significantly higher seroprevalence was observed in cats from suburban areas compared with cats in urban areas during both periods (P < 0.05). These results reveal that there has been little change in the feline and canine seroprevalence over the past decade, indicating that the risk of T. gondii exposure for cats and dogs in Tokyo is considerably low as the seroprevalence has reached a steady state.
Collapse
|
20
|
Rahimi MT, Daryani A, Sarvi S, Shokri A, Ahmadpour E, Teshnizi SH, Mizani A, Sharif M. Cats and Toxoplasma gondii: A systematic review and meta-analysis in Iran. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 82:e1-e10. [PMID: 26017063 PMCID: PMC6238687 DOI: 10.4102/ojvr.v82i1.823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Revised: 11/10/2014] [Accepted: 11/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a cosmopolitan zoonotic intracellular coccidian of the phylum Apicomplexa infecting warm-blooded animals and human beings. This protozoan causes a significant public health problem in humans and imposes considerable economic losses and damages to husbandry industries. The final host, cats, accounts for all of these significant burdens. Hence the present study was designed to analyse and review the overall prevalence rate of T. gondii infection in cats in Iran for the first time. In the present study data collection (published and unpublished papers, abstracts of proceedings of national parasitology congresses and dissertations) was systematically undertaken on electronic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Ebsco, Science Direct, Scopus, Magiran, Irandoc, IranMedex and Scientific Information Database. A total of 21 studies from 1975 to 2013 reporting prevalence of Toxoplasma infection in cats from different areas in Iran met the eligibility criteria. The pooled proportion of toxoplasmosis using the random-effect model amongst cats was estimated at 33.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 22.05–46.41). The prevalence rate of cat toxoplasmosis in various regions of Iran ranged from 1.2% to 89.2%. Firstly, this study establishes a crude prevalence rate of T. gondii infection in cats. Secondly, it discusses the role of significant risk factors including sex, age and being either household or stray cats, in the epidemiology of the disease. Furthermore, the current study determines gaps and drawbacks in the prior studies that are useful to keep in mind to assist in designing more accurate investigations in future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad T Rahimi
- Toxoplasmosis Research Centre, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Sari Medical School, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma in a coastal region of Haiti: multiplex bead assay detection of immunoglobulin G antibodies that recognize the SAG2A antigen. Epidemiol Infect 2015; 143:618-30. [PMID: 25600668 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268814001216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a globally distributed parasitic protozoan that infects most warm-blooded animals. We incorporated a bead coupled with recombinant SAG2A protein into our Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) multiplex bead assay (MBA) panel and used it to determine Toxoplasma infection rates in two studies in Haiti. In a longitudinal cohort study of children aged 0-11 years, the infection rate varied with age reaching a maximum of 0·131 infections/year in children aged 3 years [95% confidence interval (CI) 0·065-0·204]. The median time to seroconversion was estimated to be 9·7 years (95% CI 7·6-∞). In a cross-sectional, community-wide survey of residents of all ages, we determined an overall seroprevalence of 28·2%. The seroprevalence age curve from the cross-sectional study also suggested that the force of infection varied with age and peaked at 0·057 infections/year (95% CI 0·033-0·080) at age 2·6 years. Integration of the Toxoplasma MBA into NTD surveys may allow for better estimates of the potential burden of congenital toxoplasmosis in underserved regions.
Collapse
|
22
|
Cañón-Franco WA, López-Orozco N, Gómez-Marín JE, Dubey JP. An overview of seventy years of research (1944-2014) on toxoplasmosis in Colombia, South America. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:427. [PMID: 25190525 PMCID: PMC4262115 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper summarizes prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in humans and animals and associated correlates of infection, clinical spectrum of disease in humans, and genetic diversity of T. gondii isolates from Colombia. Recent studies, especially in the states of Antioquia, Quindío and Cundinamarca, indicate that toxoplasmosis is a major public health problem. Approximately half of the women of child bearing age have T. gondii antibodies, and the clinical disease in congenitally infected children is more severe than in Europe. Limited studies indicate that the strains of T. gondii from Colombia are genetically and phenotypically different than in Europe and North America. However, epidemiological factors, such as the involvement of domestic and/or wild animals in transmission, the distribution of strain diversity by natural geographic regions, and the variation in risk factors between regions that are associated with human infection in Colombia, remain unknown. Areas of research for the future are outlined. This review should be of interest to biologists, veterinarians, physicians, and parasitologists.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William Alberto Cañón-Franco
- />Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87 Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP CEP 05508-270 Brasil
- />Laboratorio de Parasitología Veterinaria, Departamento de Salud Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10, Manizales, Colombia
| | - Natalia López-Orozco
- />Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87 Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP CEP 05508-270 Brasil
| | - Jorge Enrique Gómez-Marín
- />Grupo de Estudio en Parasitología Molecular (GEPAMOL), Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad del Quindío, Av. Bolivar 12 N, Armenia (Quindío), Colombia
| | - Jitender P Dubey
- />United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350 USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Gotteland C, Gilot-Fromont E, Aubert D, Poulle ML, Dupuis E, Dardé ML, Forin-Wiart MA, Rabilloud M, Riche B, Villena I. Spatial distribution of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in soil in a rural area: Influence of cats and land use. Vet Parasitol 2014; 205:629-37. [PMID: 25178554 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2013] [Revised: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 08/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is the protozoan parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis, one of the most prevalent zoonoses worldwide. T. gondii infects humans through the ingestion of meat containing bradyzoites or through soil, food or water contaminated with oocysts. Soil contamination with oocysts is increasingly recognized as a major source of infection for humans, but has rarely been quantified directly. In this study, we investigated the spatial pattern of soil contamination with T. gondii over an area of 2.25 km(2) in a rural area of eastern France. The frequency and spatial distribution of T. gondii in soil was analyzed in relation with the factors that could influence the pattern of contamination: cats' frequency and spatial distribution and land use. According to a stratified random sampling Scheme 243 soil samples were collected. The detection of T. gondii oocysts was performed using a recent sensitive method based on concentration and quantitative PCR. Sensitivity was improved by analyzing four replicates at each sampling point. T. gondii was detected in 29.2% of samples. Soil contamination decreased with increasing distance from the core areas of cat home ranges (households and farms). However, it remained high at the periphery of the study site, beyond the boundaries of the largest cat home ranges, and was not related to land use. This pattern of contamination strongly supports the role of inhabited areas which concentrate cat populations as sources of risk for oocyst-induced infection for both humans and animals. Moreover, soil contamination was not restricted to areas of high cat density suggesting a large spatial scale of environmental contamination, which could result from T. gondii oocysts dissemination through rain washing or other mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Gotteland
- Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Bâtiment Mendel, Université Lyon 1, 43 Bd du 11 novembre 1918, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France; Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, EA 3800, UFR de Médecine, SFR Cap Santé FED 4231, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, F-51096 Reims, France; Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, CERFE, 08240 Boult-aux-bois, France.
| | - Emmanuelle Gilot-Fromont
- Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Bâtiment Mendel, Université Lyon 1, 43 Bd du 11 novembre 1918, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France; Université de Lyon, VetAgro-Sup Campus Vétérinaire, 1 Avenue Bourgelat, F-69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Dominique Aubert
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, EA 3800, UFR de Médecine, SFR Cap Santé FED 4231, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, F-51096 Reims, France
| | - Marie-Lazarine Poulle
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, EA 3800, UFR de Médecine, SFR Cap Santé FED 4231, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, F-51096 Reims, France; Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, CERFE, 08240 Boult-aux-bois, France
| | - Emilie Dupuis
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, EA 3800, UFR de Médecine, SFR Cap Santé FED 4231, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, F-51096 Reims, France
| | - Marie-Laure Dardé
- Université de Limoges, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, INSERM UMR 1094, 2 rue du Dr Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France
| | - Marie-Amélie Forin-Wiart
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, EA 3800, UFR de Médecine, SFR Cap Santé FED 4231, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, F-51096 Reims, France; Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, CERFE, 08240 Boult-aux-bois, France
| | - Muriel Rabilloud
- Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Bâtiment Mendel, Université Lyon 1, 43 Bd du 11 novembre 1918, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France; Laboratoire Biostatistique-Santé, Service de Biostatistique, 162 Avenue Lacassagne, 69424 Lyon Cedex 03, France
| | - Benjamin Riche
- Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Bâtiment Mendel, Université Lyon 1, 43 Bd du 11 novembre 1918, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France; Laboratoire Biostatistique-Santé, Service de Biostatistique, 162 Avenue Lacassagne, 69424 Lyon Cedex 03, France
| | - Isabelle Villena
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, EA 3800, UFR de Médecine, SFR Cap Santé FED 4231, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, F-51096 Reims, France
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Alvarado-Esquivel C, Romero-Salas D, Cruz-Romero A, García-Vázquez Z, Peniche-Cardeña A, Ibarra-Priego N, Ahuja-Aguirre C, Pérez-de-León AA, Dubey JP. High prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in dogs in Veracruz, Mexico. BMC Vet Res 2014; 10:191. [PMID: 25134696 PMCID: PMC4236830 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-014-0191-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known concerning the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in dogs in Mexico. Here, we investigated antibodies to T. gondii and associated risk factors in 101 dogs from an animal shelter in Veracruz State, Mexico. Canine sera were assayed for T. gondii IgG antibodies by using the modified agglutination test (MAT, cut off 1:25). RESULTS Sixty eight (67.3%) of 101 dogs were seropositive with titers of 1:25 in 16, 1:50 in 8, 1:100 in 9, 1:200 in 10, 1:400 in 10, 1:800 in 10, 1:1600 in 3, and 1:3200 or higher in 2. None of the dogs' characteristics studied including age, sex, breed, and history of deworming, rabies vaccination and contact with cats was associated with seroprevalence of T. gondii infection. CONCLUSION Using the dogs as sentinel animals, the results indicate high contamination with T. gondii of the environment in Veracruz, Mexico. Results have public health implications, and further studies in Veracruz should be conducted to establish the sources of environmental contamination with T. gondii and to determine optimal preventive measures against T. gondii infection in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, Durango, 34000, Mexico.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in birds from the Atlantic Forest, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Vet Parasitol 2014; 200:193-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2013] [Revised: 10/04/2013] [Accepted: 10/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
26
|
Fancourt BA, Jackson RB. Regional seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in feral and stray cats (Felis catus) from Tasmania. AUST J ZOOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1071/zo14015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a cosmopolitan protozoan parasite of felids that also has significant implications for the health of wildlife, livestock and humans worldwide. In Australia, feral, stray and domestic cats (Felis catus) are the most important definitive host of T. gondii as they are the only species that can excrete the environmentally resistant oocysts that provide a major source of infection for mammals and birds. In Tasmania, the rapid decline of the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) may allow an increase in feral cat abundance, thereby increasing the risk of T. gondii infection to a range of susceptible wildlife species. At present, there is scant information on the prevalence of T. gondii infection in feral cat populations across Tasmania. We tested feral cats from 13 regions across Tasmania for the presence of T. gondii–specific IgG antibodies using a modified agglutination test. Results were combined with serosurveys from three previous studies to enable a comparison of seroprevalence among 14 regions across Tasmania. We found that 84.2% (224 of 266) of cats tested positive for T. gondii IgG antibodies. This is among the highest rates of prevalence recorded from Australia, and significantly higher than for most other countries. Adult cats had higher seroprevalence than kittens but there was no difference between sexes. In Tasmania, seroprevalence was high in 12 of 14 regions (range: 79.3–100.0%), with only two regions (Tasman Island and Southern Tasmania) recording significantly lower seroprevalence (≤50%). This suggests a high risk of infection across Tasmania, and has significant implications for wildlife conservation should feral cat abundance increase with the ongoing declines in Tasmanian devils.
Collapse
|
27
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Hong SH, Jeong YI, Kim JY, Cho SH, Lee WJ, Lee SE. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in household cats in Korea and risk factors. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2013; 51:357-61. [PMID: 23864749 PMCID: PMC3712112 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2013.51.3.357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2012] [Revised: 03/17/2013] [Accepted: 03/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Several epidemiological surveys have reported the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in stray cats in Korea, but little information is available on T. gondii infection in household cats. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of T. gondii infection among household cats reared in Seoul, Korea. A total of 474 blood samples were collected from clinically healthy household cats. All samples were tested using ELISA and PCR. The risk factor analysis was based on a questionnaire filled out by the owners. The overall positive rate for ELISA and PCR assays was 2.2% (10/437) and 2.1% (10/474), respectively. With regard to the origin of cats, the positive rates among cats adopted from the animal shelter and veterinary clinic for stray cats were significantly different (P<0.05). Our study demonstrated that the positive rate of T. gondii infection in household cats was low and that this low prevalence was assumed to be associated with keeping the cats indoors and restriction of eating raw food and uncooked meat. Therefore, we suggest that the owners check the origin of the cats prior to adoption to prevent infection of other animals, including humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Hee Hong
- Division of Malaria & Parasite Disease, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongwon 363-951, Korea
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Mercier A, Garba M, Bonnabau H, Kane M, Rossi JP, Darde ML, Dobigny G. Toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in urban rodents: a survey in Niamey, Niger. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2013; 108:399-407. [DOI: 10.1590/s0074-0276108042013002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2012] [Accepted: 04/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Madougou Garba
- Centre Regional AGRHYMET; Universite Abdou Moumouni; Direction Generale de la Protection des Vegetaux
| | | | - Mamadou Kane
- Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations
| | | | | | - Gauthier Dobigny
- Centre Regional AGRHYMET; International de Baillarguet Montferrier-sur-Lez
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Himsworth CG, Parsons KL, Jardine C, Patrick DM. Rats, Cities, People, and Pathogens: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of Literature Regarding the Ecology of Rat-Associated Zoonoses in Urban Centers. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2013; 13:349-59. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2012.1195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea G. Himsworth
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kirbee L. Parsons
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Claire Jardine
- Department of Pathobiology, Univeristy of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - David M. Patrick
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Garza-Leon M, Garcia LA. Ocular toxoplasmosis: clinical characteristics in pediatric patients. Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2012; 20:130-8. [PMID: 22409567 DOI: 10.3109/09273948.2012.656878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To describe the clinical features of Ocular Toxoplasmosis in pediatric patients. METHODS A retrospective, non-comparative series of cases was studied. We reviewed the clinical records of patients 16 year old or younger diagnosed with Ocular Toxoplasmosis. RESULTS Forty patients (56 eyes) were included. The mean age was 9.5 yrs old. Twenty were female. Unilateral involvement was noticed in 60% of patients. The most common symptoms were strabismus (32.1%) and reduced VA in (23.2%). An inactive retinal scar was observed in most cases (71.4%). Panuveitis was found in 8 eyes (14.2%), and posterior uveitis in 7 eyes of 7 patients (12.5%); one eye presented neuroretinitis. The most frequent location of retinochoroidal lesions was the posterior pole (72.7%). CONCLUSIONS In children, ocular toxoplasmosis is most commonly diagnosed during the inactive stage. When inflammation is present, it can be severe and frequently associated with other complications such vasculitis and papillitis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Garza-Leon
- Asociación para Evitar la Ceguera en Mexico, Inflammatory eye disease clinic, Coyoacan, Mexico, Mexico.
| | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Backhans A, Fellström C. Rodents on pig and chicken farms - a potential threat to human and animal health. Infect Ecol Epidemiol 2012; 2:IEE-2-17093. [PMID: 22957130 PMCID: PMC3426328 DOI: 10.3402/iee.v2i0.17093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2011] [Revised: 01/20/2012] [Accepted: 01/23/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rodents can cause major problems through spreading various diseases to animals and humans. The two main species of rodents most commonly found on farms around the world are the house mouse (Mus musculus) and the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus). Both species are omnivorous and can breed year-round under favourable conditions. This review describes the occurrence of pathogens in rodents on specialist pig and chicken farms, which are usually closed units with a high level of bio-security. However, wild rodents may be difficult to exclude completely, even from these sites, and can pose a risk of introducing and spreading pathogens. This article reviews current knowledge regarding rodents as a hazard for spreading disease on farms. Most literature available regards zoonotic pathogens, while the literature regarding pathogens that cause disease in farm animals is more limited.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annette Backhans
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Opsteegh M, Haveman R, Swart AN, Mensink-Beerepoot ME, Hofhuis A, Langelaar MFM, van der Giessen JWB. Seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic cats in The Netherlands. Prev Vet Med 2012; 104:317-26. [PMID: 22305876 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2012.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2011] [Revised: 11/29/2011] [Accepted: 01/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Cats, as definitive hosts, play an important role in the transmission of Toxoplasma gondii. To determine the seroprevalence and risk factors for T. gondii infection in Dutch domestic cats, serum samples of 450 cats were tested for T. gondii antibodies by indirect ELISA. Binary mixture analysis was used to estimate the seroprevalence, the optimal cut-off value and the probability of being positive for each cat. The seroprevalence was estimated at 18.2% (95% CI: 16.6-20.0%) and showed a decrease with age in very young cats, an increase up to about 4 years old and ranged between 20 and 30% thereafter. Hunting (OR 4.1), presence of a dog in the household (OR 2.1), former stray cat (OR 3.3) and feeding of raw meat (OR 2.7) were identified as risk factors by multivariable logistic regression analysis. Prevalence differences were estimated by linear regression on the probabilities of being positive and used to calculate the population attributable fractions for each risk factor. Hunting contributed most to the T. gondii seroprevalence in the sampled population (35%).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Opsteegh
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Centre for Infectious Disease Control, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Dattoli VCC, Veiga RV, Cunha SS, Pontes-de-Carvalho L, Barreto ML, Alcantara-Neves NM. Oocyst Ingestion As An Important Transmission Route of Toxoplasma gondii In Brazilian Urban Children. J Parasitol 2011; 97:1080-4. [DOI: 10.1645/ge-2836.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
|
35
|
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is one of the most common parasitic infections in humans. Primary infection in pregnant women can be transmitted to the fetus leading to miscarriage or congenital toxoplasmosis. Carefully designed nationwide seroprevalence surveys and case-control studies of risk factors conducted primarily in Europe and America, have shaped our view of the global status of maternal and congenital infection, directing approaches to disease prevention. However, despite encompassing 1 in 5 of the world's population, information is limited on the status of toxoplasmosis in China, partly due to the linguistic inaccessibility of the Chinese literature to the global scientific community. By selection and analysis of studies and data, reported within the last 2 decades in China, this review summarizes and renders accessible a large body of Chinese and other literature and aims to estimate the seroprevalence in Chinese pregnant women. It also reviews the prevalence trends, risk factors, and clinical manifestations. The key findings are (1) the majority of studies show that the overall seroprevalence in Chinese pregnant women is less than 10%, considerably lower than a recently published global analysis; and (2) the few available appropriate studies on maternal acute infection suggested an incidence of 0·3% which is broadly comparable to studies from other countries.
Collapse
|
36
|
Yin CC, He Y, Zhou DH, Yan C, He XH, Wu SM, Zhou Y, Yuan ZG, Lin RQ, Zhu XQ. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Rats in Southern China. J Parasitol 2010; 96:1233-4. [DOI: 10.1645/ge-2610.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
|
37
|
Vujanić M, Ivović V, Kataranovski M, Nikolić A, Bobić B, Klun I, Villena I, Kataranovski D, Djurković-Djaković O. Toxoplasmosis in naturally infected rodents in Belgrade, Serbia. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2010; 11:1209-11. [PMID: 21028963 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2010.0119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To assess the role of synanthropic rodents in the epidemiology of urban toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma gondii infection was examined in 144 rats (Rattus norvegicus) and 12 mice (Mus musculus) captured using live animal traps in three locations in Belgrade city characterized by poor housing and degraded environment. In rats, specific IgG antibodies were detected by modified agglutination test in 22 (27.5%) of the 80 blood samples available. Toxoplasma brain cysts were microscopically detected in 11 (7.6%), and Toxoplasma DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction was demonstrated in 15 (10.4%) animals. Of these, both cysts and Toxoplasma DNA were detected in five (3.5%) rats. In mice, cysts were observed in 3 (25%), but Toxoplasma DNA was detected in even 10 (83.3%) animals, including all 3 with morphologically recognized cysts. Being a link in the chain of Toxoplasma infection, the existence of urban rodent reservoirs of infection represents a public health risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marija Vujanić
- National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Serbian Centre for Parasitic Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Rosypal AC, Hill R, Lewis S, Braxton K, Zajac AM, Lindsay DS. Toxoplasma gondii and Trypanosoma cruzi Antibodies in Dogs from Virginia. Zoonoses Public Health 2010; 57:e76-80. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2010.01332.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
39
|
Abu-Madi MA, Behnke JM, Dabritz HA. Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and co-infection with TORCH pathogens in high-risk patients from Qatar. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2010; 82:626-33. [PMID: 20348511 PMCID: PMC2844547 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Testing of patients who are deemed to be at high risk for TORCH pathogens, e.g., pregnant women, their fetuses, neonates, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, is important so that specific treatment can be initiated. This study included 1,857 such patients between 2005 and 2008. Logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity. Among 823 women of childbearing age, 35.1% and 5.2% tested positive for T. gondii IgG and IgM, respectively. Three infants < or = 6 months of age (0.8% of 353) were congenitally infected. Factors associated with T. gondii IgG seropositivity included older age, East Mediterranean or African nationality, positive cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 serostatus, and negative rubella IgG results. The decreasing prevalence of IgM antibodies between 2005 and 2008 suggested that exposure to T. gondii from food or environmental sources declined over this period in Qatar. Population-based studies of newborns would be helpful to accurately estimate incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marawan A Abu-Madi
- College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Elmore SA, Jones JL, Conrad PA, Patton S, Lindsay DS, Dubey JP. Toxoplasma gondii: epidemiology, feline clinical aspects, and prevention. Trends Parasitol 2010; 26:190-6. [PMID: 20202907 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2010.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 297] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2009] [Revised: 01/22/2010] [Accepted: 01/28/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite of birds and mammals. Cats are the only definitive host and thus the only source of infective oocysts, but other mammals and birds can develop tissue cysts. Although feline infections are typically asymptomatic, infection during human pregnancy can cause severe disease in the fetus. Cat owners can reduce their pets' exposure risk by keeping all cats indoors and not feeding them raw meat. Humans usually become infected through ingestion of oocyst-contaminated soil and water, tissue cysts in undercooked meat, or congenitally. Because of their fastidious nature, the passing of non-infective oocysts, and the short duration of oocyst shedding, direct contact with cats is not thought to be a primary risk for human infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stacey A Elmore
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
dos Santos TR, Nunes CM, Luvizotto MCR, de Moura AB, Lopes WDZ, da Costa AJ, Bresciani KDS. Detection of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in environmental samples from public schools. Vet Parasitol 2010; 171:53-7. [PMID: 20347524 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.02.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2009] [Revised: 02/24/2010] [Accepted: 02/25/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The number of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts that can be found in random environmental samples is probably low; in addition, these cysts may be confused with Hammondia spp. and Neospora spp. oocysts. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the presence of T. gondii oocysts in the soil of public elementary schools in the northwest area of the state of São Paulo, Brazil using mouse bioassays. A comparison was made between the different available bioassay techniques, such as squash, histopathology, immunohistochemistry and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). T. gondii was isolated by bioassay in mice (squash brain samples) from 22.58% (7/31) of the school playgrounds. Immunohistochemistry and IFAT showed positive results in 32.26% (10/31) and 25.80% (8/31) of samples, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the immunohistochemistry method were 85.71% and 83.33%, respectively. The IFAT results showed 100% sensitivity and 95.83% specificity. The presence of T. gondii was not detected in histopathological examinations. The results of the present study strongly suggest that T. gondii oocysts are widely distributed in elementary public schools in the region that was evaluated, likely constituting the main contamination source for these children. Educational programs directed at reducing environmental contamination with T. gondii would eventually lower the cost of treating humans for clinical toxoplasmosis. It is also possible to conclude that the use of IFAT in mouse bioassays can be recommended without the need for brain cysts research, which is extremely difficult and laborious.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thaís Rabelo dos Santos
- Department of Animal Pathology, CPPAR, FCAV, UNESP-Jaboticabal, Access road Prof. Paul Donato Castellane s/n, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
|
43
|
Fromont EG, Riche B, Rabilloud M. Toxoplasma seroprevalence in a rural population in France: detection of a household effect. BMC Infect Dis 2009; 9:76. [PMID: 19476609 PMCID: PMC2696459 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-9-76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2008] [Accepted: 05/28/2009] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii, the agent of toxoplasmosis, has a complex life cycle. In humans, the parasite may be acquired either through ingestion of contaminated meat or through oocysts present in the environment. The importance of each source of contamination varies locally according to the environment characteristics and to differences concerning human eating habits and the presence of cats; thus, the risk factors may be determined through fine-scale studies. Here, we searched for factors associated with seropositivity in the population of two adjacent villages in Lorraine region, France. Methods All voluntary inhabitants filled out a questionnaire and gave a blood sample. The seroprevalence was estimated globally and according to the inhabitants' ages using a cubic spline regression. A mixed logistic regression model was used to quantify the effect of individual and household factors on the probability of seropositivity. Results Based on serological results from 273 persons, we estimated seroprevalence to be 47% (95% confidence interval: 41 to 53%). That seroprevalence increased with age: the slope was the steepest up to the age of 40 years (OR = 2.48 per 10-year increment, 95% credibility interval: [1.29 to 5.09]), but that increase was not significant afterwards. The probability of seropositivity tended to be higher in men than in women (OR = 2.01, 95% credibility interval: [0.92 to 4.72]) and in subjects eating raw vegetables at least once a week than in the others (OR = 8.4, 95% credibility interval: [0.93 to 72.1]). These effects were close to statistical significance. The multivariable analysis highlighted a significant seroprevalence heterogeneity among households. That seroprevalence varied between 6 and 91% (5th and 95th percentile of the household seropositivity distribution). Conclusion The major finding is the household effect, with a strong heterogeneity of seroprevalence among households. This effect may be explained by common exposures of household members to local risk factors. Future work will quantify the link between the presence of oocysts in the soil and the seroprevalence of exposed households using a spatial analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuelle Gilot Fromont
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Equipe Ecologie Evolutive des Populations, UMR5558, CNRS, Villeurbanne, France.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Carme B, Ajzenberg D, Demar M, Simon S, Dardé ML, Maubert B, de Thoisy B. Outbreaks of toxoplasmosis in a captive breeding colony of squirrel monkeys. Vet Parasitol 2009; 163:132-5. [PMID: 19423226 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2008] [Revised: 03/24/2009] [Accepted: 04/03/2009] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is highly virulent in New World monkeys, but despite numerous outbreaks observed in captive populations there are few reports of molecular characterization of strains. In this article, we describe two outbreaks of toxoplasmosis that occurred in 2001 and 2006 in an outdoor captive breeding colony of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) kept by the Institut Pasteur in French Guiana. A microsatellite DNA analysis of the biological samples collected in the 2001 and 2006 outbreaks showed that two different Toxoplasma strains were involved. The 2001 strain exhibited a type II genotype whereas the 2006 strain showed a combination of type I, type III and atypical alleles. Infection could be related to oocysts contaminating water or food, or to ingestion of rats by monkeys. In 2006, a second episode was observed 3 weeks after the first, and was believed to be related to direct contamination by tachyzoites of bronchopulmonary origin from dying monkeys of the first event. During both outbreaks, a total of 50 monkeys died and none recovered spontaneously, confirming the virulence of both type II and non-type II Toxoplasma strains in New World monkeys.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Carme
- Laboratoire Parasitologie Mycologie EA 3593, Cayenne Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of the French West Indies and French Guiana, BP 6006, 97306 Cayenne, French Guiana
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Waterborne toxoplasmosis--recent developments. Exp Parasitol 2009; 124:10-25. [PMID: 19324041 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2009.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2008] [Revised: 03/10/2009] [Accepted: 03/17/2009] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Humans become infected with Toxoplasma gondii mainly by ingesting uncooked meat containing viable tissue cysts or by ingesting food or water contaminated with oocysts from the feces of infected cats. Circumstantial evidence suggests that oocyst-induced infections in humans are clinically more severe than tissue cyst-acquired infections. Until recently, waterborne transmission of T. gondii was considered uncommon, but a large human outbreak linked to contamination of a municipal water reservoir in Canada by wild felids and the widespread infection of marine mammals in the USA provided reasons to question this view. The present paper examines the possible importance of T. gondii transmission by water.
Collapse
|
46
|
Dabritz HA, Miller MA, Gardner IA, Packham AE, Atwill ER, Conrad PA. Risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in wild rodents from central coastal California and a review of T. gondii prevalence in rodents. J Parasitol 2008; 94:675-83. [PMID: 18605783 DOI: 10.1645/ge-1342.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2007] [Accepted: 10/24/2007] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Sera from 523 wild rodents were tested for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using either an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) (rats and mice, with titer >or=80 considered positive) or a latex agglutination test (LAT) (voles, squirrels, and pocket mice, with titer >or=32 considered positive). Seventeen percent (88/523) of the rodents, including 26% (85/328) of the Peromyscus sp. and 8% (3/37) of Spermophilus beecheyi, were seropositive. Fourteen percent (23/161) of rodents captured in trap sites next to Morro Bay (California) and 15% (16/109) of rodents from sites adjacent to riparian habitats had antibodies to T. gondii, compared to 19% (49/253) of rodents captured in habitats not associated with water; this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.32). Significantly fewer rodents were captured <200 m from residential housing compared to locations further away (11% vs. 30%, respectively). Factors associated with an increased risk for T. gondii seropositivity in rodents were capture location >or=200 m from residential housing and adult age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haydee A Dabritz
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Vet Med III-A, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Afonso E, Lemoine M, Poulle ML, Ravat MC, Romand S, Thulliez P, Villena I, Aubert D, Rabilloud M, Riche B, Gilot-Fromont E. Spatial distribution of soil contamination by Toxoplasma gondii in relation to cat defecation behaviour in an urban area. Int J Parasitol 2008; 38:1017-23. [PMID: 18325523 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2008.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2007] [Revised: 12/21/2007] [Accepted: 01/06/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In urban areas, there may be a high local risk of zoonosis due to high densities of stray cat populations. In this study, soil contamination by oocysts of Toxoplasma gondii was searched for, and its spatial distribution was analysed in relation to defecation behaviour of cats living in a high-density population present in one area of Lyon (France). Sixteen defecation sites were first identified. Cats were then repeatedly fed with marked food and the marked faeces were searched for in the defecation sites. Of 260 markers, 72 were recovered from 24 different cats. Defecation sites were frequented by up to 15 individuals. Soil samples were also examined in order to detect the presence of T. gondii using real-time PCR. The entire study area was then sampled according to cat density and vegetation cover type. Only three of 55 samples were positive and all came from defecation sites. In a second series of observations, 16 defecation sites were sampled. Eight of 62 samples tested positive, originating in five defecation sites. Laboratory experiments using experimental seeding of soil showed that the inoculated dose that can be detected in 50% of assays equals 100-1000oocysts/g, depending on the strain. This study shows that high concentrations of oocysts can be detected in soil samples using molecular methods and suggests that spatial distribution of contamination areas is highly heterogeneous. Positive samples were only found in some of the defecation sites, signifying that at-risk points for human and animal infection may be very localised.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eve Afonso
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5558, Villeurbanne F-69622, France.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Dabritz HA, Miller MA, Gardner IA, Packham AE, Atwill ER, Conrad PA. Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Wild Rodents from Central Coastal California and a Review of T. gondii Prevalence in Rodents. J Parasitol 2008. [DOI: 10.1645/ge-1342r.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
|
49
|
Dabritz HA, Gardner IA, Miller MA, Lappin MR, Atwill ER, Packham AE, Melli AC, Conrad PA. EVALUATION OF TWO TOXOPLASMA GONDII SEROLOGIC TESTS USED IN A SEROSURVEY OF DOMESTIC CATS IN CALIFORNIA. J Parasitol 2007; 93:806-16. [DOI: 10.1645/ge-996r.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
|
50
|
Jittapalapong S, Nimsupan B, Pinyopanuwat N, Chimnoi W, Kabeya H, Maruyama S. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in stray cats and dogs in the Bangkok metropolitan area, Thailand. Vet Parasitol 2006; 145:138-41. [PMID: 17141415 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2006] [Revised: 10/11/2006] [Accepted: 10/27/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cats and dogs are the most popular pet animals worldwide. Cats are the natural reservoir of Toxoplasma gondii and excrete the resistant oocyst to environments. On the other hands, dogs play a role in the mechanical transmission of the parasite. Stray cats and dogs in the Bangkok metropolitan area are becoming a public concern because there is a considerable increase in their number annually. These facts indicate the risk of mechanically spreading zoonoses including toxoplasmosis to humans since human acquire the infection from infected mammals, either directly or indirectly. In the present study, the presence of T. gondii antibodies was examined in 592 cats and 427 dogs from October 2001 to September 2002 by using a latex agglutination test. T. gondii antibodies were detected in 65 (11.0%) of the 592 cats and 40 (9.4%) of the 427 dogs. The antibody titers in the positive animals ranged from 1:64 to 1:2048. Seroprevalence was significantly higher in female cats than in male cats. The present study suggested that T. gondii was widespread in the stray animals in the Bangkok metropolitan area; therefore, it is essential to control the number of stray cats and dogs in order to reduce the transmission of toxoplasmosis to animals and humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sathaporn Jittapalapong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|