scholarly journals No evidence for airborne transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in a very high prevalence area in Lancaster County

Pteridines ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 172-178
Author(s):  
Abhishek Wadhawan ◽  
Dolores E. Hill ◽  
Aline Dagdag ◽  
Hira Mohyuddin ◽  
Patrick Donnelly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Congenital Toxoplasmosis ◽  
Pcr Amplification ◽  
Heart Tissue ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Airborne Transmission ◽  
Air Filters ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Food Borne Illness ◽  
Very High

AbstractBackground: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) has been associated with acute food-borne illness, chronic low-grade inflammation, neuropsychiatric conditions and reactivation of chronic latent infection in immunocompetent hosts. Primary infection with T. gondii in pregnant women can lead to congenital toxoplasmosis. In addition to well-known oral tissue-cyst or oocyst ingestion, we hypothesized that the very high prevalence of T. gondii in certain populations exposed to agricultural dust could be, in part, a consequence of airborne infection with oocysts. Methods: We collected environmental dust samples from an area with a reportedly high T. gondii seroprevalence in the Old Order Amish population, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Samples included: a) air filters from air-conditioning units; b) swabs of settled dust; and c) vacuum filters containing airborne field dust. Pools of the swabs and shredded sub-samples of the air filters were fed to pigs, with inoculation into mice of heart tissue from seroconverted pigs. We also investigated the presence of T. gondii DNA using PCR amplification. Results: Only one pig seroconverted. However, bioassay of pig heart tissue further inoculated into mice showed no evidence of T. gondii infection. Consistently, no evidence of T. gondii DNA was revealed in any sample. Conclusions: No evidence of airborne transmission was found in the environmental samples that were examined.

Toxoplasmosis in humans and animals in Brazil: high prevalence, high burden of disease, and epidemiology

Parasitology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 139 (11) ◽  
pp. 1375-1424 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. DUBEY ◽  
E. G. LAGO ◽  
S. M. GENNARI ◽  
C. SU ◽  
J. L. JONES
Keyword(s):  
Health Workers ◽  
Congenital Toxoplasmosis ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Genetic Characteristics ◽  
Brazilian Government ◽  
Child Bearing ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
And Control ◽  
Very High

SUMMARYInfections by the protozoan parasiteToxoplasma gondiiare widely prevalent in humans and animals in Brazil. The burden of clinical toxoplasmosis in humans is considered to be very high. The high prevalence and encouragement of the Brazilian Government provides a unique opportunity for international groups to study the epidemiology and control of toxoplasmosis in Brazil. Many early papers on toxoplasmosis in Brazil were published in Portuguese and often not available to scientists in English-speaking countries. In the present paper we review prevalence, clinical spectrum, molecular epidemiology, and control ofT. gondiiin humans and animals in Brazil. This knowledge should be useful to biologists, public health workers, veterinarians, and physicians. Brazil has a very high rate ofT. gondiiinfection in humans. Up to 50% of elementary school children and 50–80% of women of child-bearing age have antibodies toT. gondii. The risks for uninfected women to acquire toxoplasmosis during pregnancy and fetal transmission are high because the environment is highly contaminated with oocysts. The burden of toxoplasmosis in congenitally infected children is also very high. From limited data on screening of infants forT. gondiiIgM at birth, 5–23 children are born infected per 10 000 live births in Brazil. Based on an estimate of 1 infected child per 1000 births, 2649 children with congenital toxoplasmosis are likely to be born annually in Brazil. Most of these infected children are likely to develop symptoms or signs of clinical toxoplasmosis. Among the congenitally infected children whose clinical data are described in this review, several died soon after birth, 35% had neurological disease including hydrocephalus, microcephaly and mental retardation, 80% had ocular lesions, and in one report 40% of children had hearing loss. The severity of clinical toxoplasmosis in Brazilian children may be associated with the genetic characteristics ofT. gondiiisolates prevailing in animals and humans in Brazil.

Frequency of Toxoplasma gondii in Pork Meat in Ocotlán, Jalisco, Mexico

2010 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 1121-1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. GALVÁN-RAMIREZ ◽  
A. L. MADRIZ ELISONDO ◽  
C. P. RICO TORRES ◽  
H. LUNA-PASTÉN ◽  
L. R. RODRÍGUEZ PÉREZ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Pcr Amplification ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Pork Meat ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
B1 Gene ◽  
Hematoxylin And Eosin ◽  
Antibody Kinetics

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular obligate parasite. Its transmission has usually been attributed to ingestion of undercooked or raw meat. The frequency of T. gondii in pork, the most common meat for human consumption in Jalisco, Mexico, is unknown; in Guadalajara city high prevalence of human toxoplasmosis has been documented. Forty-eight samples of pork meat from butcher shops in Ocotlán city were analyzed. Through bioassay, 50 g of tissue was homogenized in an acidic pepsin solution and inoculated subcutaneously to previously immunosuppressed mice. Blood samples from the mice tail vein were obtained before inoculation and 7, 14, 28, and 45 days postinoculation to analyze anti-Toxoplasma immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG antibody kinetics by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For histopathology, small fragments of the brain, lungs, heart, and skeletal muscle were extracted on day 45 and were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Also, DNA was extracted from the pork meat for PCR amplification of the B1 gene. Even though all pork samples were negative by histopathology and PCR, IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii were detected in 1 of the 48 inoculated mice, reflecting a frequency of 2.1% positive pork meat, which is lower than expected but similar to that found in other regions.

A review of toxoplasmosis in humans and animals in Ethiopia

2012 ◽  
Vol 140 (11) ◽  
pp. 1935-1938 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. DUBEY ◽  
N. TIAO ◽  
W. A. GEBREYES ◽  
J. L. JONES
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Antiviral Therapy ◽  
Opportunistic Infections ◽  
Congenital Toxoplasmosis ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Seroprevalence Data ◽  
Very High

SUMMARYToxoplasmosis caused by the protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, is a worldwide zoonosis. In this paper published information on toxoplasmosis in humans and other animals in Ethiopia is reviewed. Limited data indicate that the prevalence of T. gondii in humans in Ethiopia is very high, up to 41% of children aged 1–5 years were reported to be seropositive. There is little information on seroprevalence data in pregnant women and no data on congenital toxoplasmosis in children. About 1 million adults in Ethiopia are considered to be infected with HIV with less than one-third likely receive highly active antiviral therapy. Based on a conservative T. gondii seroprevalence of 50%, thousands might die of concurrent opportunistic infections, including toxoplasmosis. However, exact figures are not available, and most serological surveys are not current. Serological surveys indicate up to 79% of goats and sheep have T. gondii antibodies. However, there is no information on losses due to toxoplasmosis in livestock or the presence of viable T. gondii in any host in Ethiopia.

HIGH PREVALENCE OF MALNUTRITON AND WORM INFECTION AMONG VAN KIEU AND PAKOH CHILDREN AGED 12-36 MONTHS IN DAKRONG DISTRICT, QUANG TRI PROVINCE

2012 ◽  
pp. 129-134
Author(s):  
Thi Lan Tran ◽  
Thi Huong Le ◽  
Xuan Ninh Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Infection Status ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Group Recommendation ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Normal Children ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Very High

Objectives: Assess the nutritional status, worm infection status and some related factors among children aged 12-36 months of Dakrong district, Quang Tri province. Subject and method: A cross sectional study was carried out in 2010, in 680 children aged 12-36 months in 4 communes of Dakrong district, Quang Tri province. Results: The malnutrition rate was 55.0% for underweight, 66.5% for stunting and 16.2% for wasting. The prevalence of malnutrition increases by age group. The prevalence of worm infection was 31.6%, the highest prevalence was belong to Ascaris infection (24.6%), followed by Hookworm and Trichuris (6.5% and 6.2%, respectively). The prevalence of worm infection among children under two is very high (27.0%). The prevalence of worm infection was distributed quite equally between the malnutrition children group and normal children group. Recommendation: Early deworming forchildren from 12 months should be considered as important strategy against the malnutrition of children in Dakrong district, Quang Tri province

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara canis among Myositis Patients in Southwest of Iran

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasem Saki ◽  
Karim Mowla ◽  
Reza Arjmand ◽  
Forough Kazemi ◽  
Somayeh Fallahizadeh
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Nested Pcr ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Toxocara Canis ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Acute Toxoplasmosis ◽  
Southwest Of Iran

Introduction: Parasitic myositis is caused by some parasites such as T. gondii and T. canis. So, the aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence T. gondii and T. canis in patients with myositis and healthy individuals. Methods: A total of 108 samples were randomly selected as the control (54 healthy individuals) and test (54 myositis patients) groups. IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii and IgG antibodies against T. canis were measured by the ELISA. The detection of chronic and acute toxoplasmosis was performed by the ELISA IgG avidity. The presence of T. gondii in blood was evaluated by the nested-PCR. Results: Of 108, 33 (30.6%) cases were detected positive for IgG against T. gondii that 19 (35.2%) and 14 (25.9%) were observed in myositis patients and healthy individuals, respectively (P=0.296). Of 19 positive cases, 12 (63.2%) and 7 (36.8%) cases were detected as chronic and acute toxoplasmosis, respectively, while, all positive cases in the control group had chronic toxoplasmosis (P=0.013). One (1.9%) sample was detected positive for anti- Toxoplasma gondii IgM and two (3.7%) samples were found positive for IgG against T. canis by the ELISA that these positive cases were observed only in myositis patients (P=1.000 P=0.495, respectively). B1 T. gondii gene was amplified in 12 (63.2%) and 1 (7.1%) in myositis patients and healthy subjects (P=0.001). Conclusions: Our findings showed that there was a relatively high prevalence of acute toxoplasmosis in myositis patients in comparison with the control subjects in southwest of Iran.

scholarly journals A Novel Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase 1 Inhibitor Potently Prevents Toxoplasma gondii Transmission to Foetuses in Mouse

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (14) ◽  
pp. 4203
Author(s):  
Héloïse Débare ◽  
Nathalie Moiré ◽  
Firmin Baron ◽  
Louis Lantier ◽  
Bruno Héraut ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Intraperitoneal Administration ◽  
Congenital Toxoplasmosis ◽  
Parasite Burden ◽  
Oral Route ◽  
Dependent Protein Kinase ◽  
Calcium Dependent ◽  
Dependent Protein ◽  
Calcium Dependent Protein Kinase

Treatments currently used to prevent congenital toxoplasmosis are non-specific of Toxoplasma gondii and have grievous side effects. To develop a more specific and less toxic drug, we have designed SP230, an imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine salt targeting the Toxoplasma gondii calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 (TgCDPK1) and active against acute toxoplasmosis in mice. Efficiency of SP230 to inhibit foetal transmission of the parasite was evaluated in a mouse model of congenital toxoplasmosis. Swiss mice were infected at mid-pregnancy with tachyzoites or cysts of the ME49 strain of T. gondii by intraperitoneal and oral route, respectively, and treated with SP230 at 50 mg/kg for 5 days by the same routes. Parasite burden in organs of dams and in foetuses was measured by quantitative PCR. Intraperitoneal administration of SP230 drastically reduced the number of parasites (more than 97% of reduction) in the brain and lungs of dams, and led to a reduction of 66% of parasite burden in foetuses. Oral administration of SP230 was particularly efficient with 97% of reduction of parasite burdens in foetuses. SP230 did not impact number and weight of offspring in our conditions. This inhibitor of TgCDPK1 is a promising candidate for the development of alternative therapeutics to treat infected pregnant women.

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in heart tissue from common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) monitored for yellow fever and rabies in Pernambuco state, Northeastern of Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 100447
Author(s):  
Renata P.B. Melo ◽  
Pollyanne R.F. Oliveira ◽  
Pedro P.F. Albuquerque ◽  
Mariana L.M. Barretto ◽  
Gabriela H.F. Moura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Yellow Fever ◽  
Common Marmoset ◽  
Heart Tissue ◽  
Callithrix Jacchus

scholarly journals Ancillary techniques on the evaluation of canine cutaneous mast cell tumors from Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. 1804-1810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Martins Flores ◽  
Renata Dalcol Mazaro ◽  
Ingeborg Maria Langohr ◽  
Alma Roy ◽  
Keith Strother ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mast Cell ◽  
Pcr Amplification ◽  
The United States ◽  
Growth Fraction ◽  
Grading System ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Ki 67 ◽  
Mast Cell Tumors ◽  
Cutaneous Mast Cell ◽  
Exon 11

ABSTRACT: The use of histologic classification by a 2-tier grading system only, immunohistochemistry (IHC) for KIT and Ki-67 and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for internal tandem duplications (ITD) on exon 11 has improved the prognostication of canine cutaneous mast cell tumors (CCMTs) particularly in the United States. However, these techniques are not commonly used in most Brazilian laboratories. Likewise, no studies, to date, have investigated the occurrence of ITD in CCMTs from the country. Thus, this study tested the 2-tier grading system, the immunohistochemistry for KIT and Ki-67 and the PCR for exon 11 in a group of Brazilian CCMTs with the goal of investigating the applicability of these tests in a Brazilian laboratory. Of the 39 CCMTs, 69.2% (27/39) were identified as low-grade and 30.8% (12/39) as high-grade by a 2-tier grading system. All tumors had a KIT expression pattern II, and 30.6% (11/36) had a high growth fraction (Ki-67). PCR amplification was successful in four of the 11 tumors examined. Two of these (50%) were positive for ITD. This study highlights the importance of using auxiliary techniques in the CCMT evaluation, identifies limitations and confirms the applicability of these methods on a routine diagnostic basis in Brazil. Our results will help to improve the prognostication of CCMTs in Brazilian diagnostic laboratories, encouraging the use of supplementary methods.

Genetic Characterization of Toxoplasma gondii DNA Samples Isolated From Humans Living in North America: An Unexpected High Prevalence of Atypical Genotypes

2018 ◽  
Vol 218 (11) ◽  
pp. 1783-1791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christelle Pomares ◽  
Sébastien Devillard ◽  
Tyson H Holmes ◽  
Tudor Rares Olariu ◽  
Cynthia J Press ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
North America ◽  
Genetic Characterization ◽  
High Prevalence

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in Vojvodina

2010 ◽  
Vol 138 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 333-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Snezana Brkic ◽  
Gorana Gajski ◽  
Mirjana Bogavac ◽  
Daniela Maric ◽  
Vesna Turkulov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
General Population ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Congenital Toxoplasmosis ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Female Population ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Female Patients

Introduction Toxoplasmosis is an acute infectious anthropozoonotic disease with mild asymptomatic clinical manifestations in immunocompetent persons and more severe in immunocompromised patients. Acute infection in pregnancy can result in severe congenital toxoplasmosis with severe sequels. Objective Aims of study were to detect Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in general population of Vojvodina, Serbia, differences between genders and determination of seroprevalence in women of reproductive age and pregnant women. Methods Our retrospective study was conducted from 2006 to 2008 including 625 immunocompetent patients, hospitalized or observed as outpatients at the Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Novi Sad. We performed commercial ELISA kits SERION - ELISA classic test by VIRION for the presence of specific IgG and IgM antibodies. According to seroepidemiological aim of the study, our results were presented only in qualitative values. Results We observed 173 male and 452 female patients. Seroprevalence in general population of Vojvodina was 38.1%. In male population seroprevalence was 45.7%, and in female population it was 35.2%, the difference which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Seroprevalence increased with age and seroconversion was detected to occur in persons aged about 20 years. In all female patients, 353 (78.1%) were in reproductive age with seroprevalence of 30%. In 161 pregnant women seroprevalence was 31.7%. Conclusion In this study we screened actual seroepidemiological situation to Toxoplasma gondii in Vojvodina, thus giving a contribution to the continuous epidemiological screening done in this region and in the country. According to our results, almost 70% of women in reproductive age were sensitive to primary acute infection during further pregnancies, which is highly important for the prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis. Although not routinely conducted in many countries, routine serological testing to Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women and their education about preventive measures against this infection could be an effective measure in the future.

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