scholarly journals Risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in dairy cattle, state of Rio de Janeiro

2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 287-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.R. Albuquerque ◽  
A.D. Munhoz ◽  
M. Teixeira ◽  
W. Flausino ◽  
S.M. Medeiros ◽  
...  

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic zoonoses throughout the world. Infection in man and animals varies in different geographical areas influenced by many environmental conditions. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cattle in Brazil ranges from 1.03 to 71%. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 58 out of 453 farms in the South Fluminense Paraiba Valley, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Over 3-year-old cattle (n=589) from dairy herds were selected for blood collection and detection of anti-T. gondii antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence reaction (IFA) with initial titration of 1:16; titers > 64 were considered positive. Univariate analysis of risk factors showed that cats in contact with cattle, cats in contact with drinking water, and number of cats were associated with T. gondii seroprevalence. Logistic regression revealed a two-fold increased risk for infection of cattle (p=0.0138) through larger number of cats (>3) compared with low numbers of cats (1-2) on the farm. In contrast, the presence of chickens was considered a protective factor (p=0.025).

2006 ◽  
Vol 135 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Klun ◽  
Olgica Djurković-Djaković ◽  
Sofija Katić-Radivojević ◽  
Aleksandra Nikolić

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdallah ◽  
Kamel ◽  
Karima ◽  
Samir ◽  
Djamel ◽  
...  

A cross-sectional study aimed at assessing the seroprevalence and identifying the risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in cattle, sheep, and goats in eight provinces located in two main Algerian agro-ecological zones was carried out from October 2015 to March 2018. Blood sera from 4074 animals of both sexes were tested for the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies, using the indirect, enzyme-linked, immunosorbent assay technique (ELISA). Moreover, to identify the potential risk factors of T. gondii infection, a survey through a breeders’ questionnaires was conducted. Nearly one-fourth of the total number of animals tested (1024/4074)—i.e., 25.1%--were seropositive. The seroprevalence in cattle, sheep, and goats was 28.7%, 25.6%, and 11.9%, respectively. The area, sex, age, and herd size were identified as risk factors for T. gondii infection. Higher seropositivity rates were recorded in cows and goats (odds ratio (OR) = 1.63 and 6.4), in old animals (cattle, OR = 2.1; sheep, OR = 1.9; and goat, OR = 3.9), and in small size herds (cattle, OR = 2.5; sheep, OR = 1.9; goat, OR = 2.2). In conclusion, there is widespread T. gondii infection in cattle, sheep, and goats in these two strategic agricultural areas. The identification of the risk factors determines the type of measures and strategies to be undertaken to reduce, control, and prevent T. gondii infection in domestic animals, and thereby reduce human infection.


2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1429-1438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvio O. M. Prietsch ◽  
Gilberto B. Fischer ◽  
Juraci A. César ◽  
Berenice S. Lempek ◽  
Luciano V. Barbosa Jr. ◽  
...  

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of acute lower respiratory illness and to identify associated factors among children less than five years of age in the city of Rio Grande, southern Brazil. Using a cross-sectional survey, a standardized household questionnaire was applied to mothers or guardians. Information was collected on household conditions, socioeconomic status, and parental smoking. Prenatal care attendance, nutritional status, breastfeeding pattern, and use of health services for the children were also investigated. Data analysis was based on prevalence ratios and logistic regression, using a conceptual framework. Among 771 children studied, 23.9% presented acute lower respiratory illness. The main risk factors were previous episodes of acute lower respiratory infection or wheezing, crowding, maternal schooling less than five years, monthly family income less than US$ 200, four or more people per room, asthma in family members, and maternal smoking. Mothers 30 years or older were identified as a protective factor. These results can help define specific measures to reduce morbidity and mortality due to acute lower respiratory illness in this setting.


2015 ◽  
Vol 143 (15) ◽  
pp. 3327-3334 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.-S. CHEN ◽  
J.-R. WU ◽  
B. WANG ◽  
T. YANG ◽  
R. YUAN ◽  
...  

SUMMARYMycoplasmainfections are most frequently associated with disease in the urogenital or respiratory tracts and, in most cases, mycoplasmas infect the host persistently. In HIV-infected individuals the prevalence and role of genital mycoplasmas has not been well studied. To investigate the six species ofMycoplasmaand the risk factors for infection in Jiangsu province, first-void urine and venous blood samples were collected and epidemiological questionnaires were administered after informed consent. A total of 1541 HIV/AIDS patients were recruited in this study. The overall infection rates of sixMycoplasmaspecies were:Ureaplasma urealyticum(26·7%),Mycoplasma hominis(25·3%),M. fermentans(5·1%),M. genitalium(20·1%),M. penetrans(1·6%) andM. pirum(15·4%). TheMycoplasmainfection rate in the unmarried group was lower than that of the married, divorced and widowed groups [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1·432, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·077–1·904,P< 0·05]. The patients who refused highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) had a much higher risk ofMucoplasmainfection (aOR 1·357, 95% CI 1·097–1·679,P< 0·05). Otherwise, a high CD4+T cell count was a protective factor againstMycoplasmainfection (aOR 0·576, 95% CI 0·460–0·719,P< 0·05). Further research will be required to confirm a causal relationship and to identify risk factors forMycoplasmainfection in HIV/AIDS populations.


2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walieh Menati ◽  
Milad Nazarzadeh ◽  
Zeinab Bidel ◽  
Morten Würtz ◽  
Rostam Menati ◽  
...  

Knowledge about social and psychological risk factors for initial cigarette smoking experience (ICSE) is sparse. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of ICSE and to examine the psychological and social factors related to ICSE. In a cross-sectional survey, 1,511 male college students were recruited using multistage sampling techniques from four universities located within the city of Ilam, Iran. Self-administered multiple-choice questionnaires were distributed to students from March to June 2013. Risk factors for ICSE were evaluated using logistic regression models. Participants were 22.3 ± 2.4 years of age. ICSE prevalence was 30.6%. In multivariable adjusted analysis, risk taking behavior (odds ratio [OR] = 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11-2.33), perceived peer smoking prevalence (OR = 2.48; 95% CI = 1.03-5.97), positive thoughts about smoking (OR = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.02-1.10), high self-efficacy ( OR = 0.95, 95% CI [0.93, 0.98]), presence in smokers’ gathering (OR = 4.45; 95% CI = 2.88-6.81), comity of smokers (OR = 2.56; 95% CI = 1.66, 3.92), very hard access to cigarettes (OR = 2.20; 95% CI = 1.16-4.16), close friends’ medium reaction toward smoking (OR = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.02-1.88), and sporting activity (OR = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.56-0.98) were significantly associated with ICSE. This study identified that a combination of psychological and social variables account for up to 78% of the probability of ICSE. The most important protective factor against ICSE was physical activity, whereas the most important risk factor for ICSE was frequent gathering in the presence of smokers.


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bénédicte Forthomme ◽  
Jean-Louis Croisier ◽  
François Delvaux ◽  
Jean-François Kaux ◽  
Jean-Michel Crielaard ◽  
...  

Context:  Few researchers have identified intrinsic risk factors for shoulder injury in team handball players by analyzing measurements of maximal isokinetic rotator muscle strength. Objective:  To identify possible intrinsic risk factors for shoulder injury by analyzing measurements of maximal isokinetic rotator muscle strength. Design:  Cross-sectional study. Setting:  Male team handball senior divisions (the highest level) in France and Belgium. Patients or Other Participants:  A total of 108 male high-level handball players (age = 24 ± 4 years, height = 189 ± 6 cm, mass = 87 ± 11 kg) were enrolled. Main Outcome Measure(s):  All players completed a preseason questionnaire and performed a bilateral isokinetic assessment of the shoulder rotator muscles. On a monthly questionnaire, players reported any shoulder injury that they sustained during the season. Results:  On the preseason questionnaire, 51 of 108 (47%) participants reported a history of dominant-shoulder injury. A total of 106 participants completed the in-season questionnaire, with 22% (n = 23) reporting a shoulder injury on their dominant side during the subsequent season. Fourteen percent (n = 15) sustained microtraumatic injuries, and 8% (n = 8) described a traumatic injury. Backcourt players had a 3.5-times increased risk of injury during the new season compared with players in other positions. Among the isokinetic results, no risk factor for further injury was identified in handball players with microtraumatic injuries. For traumatic injuries, the concentric maximal strength developed by the internal rotators at high speed (240°/s) in the dominant shoulder was a protective factor against the risk of further injury. Conclusions:  These results can potentially identify intrinsic risk factors for shoulder injury and may be used to determine potential interventions for reducing this risk in handball players.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sigrun Henjum ◽  
Victoria Telle Hjellset ◽  
Marte Karoline Raberg Kjollesdal ◽  
Merethe Flaaten ◽  
Eivind Andersen ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Economic development, globalization and urbanization has resulted in a shift in dietary consumption and energy expenditure in low- and middle-income countries, called the Nutrition Transition. At the same time, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and associated co-morbidities are rising worldwide. The Saharawi refugees have been living in refugee camps in the Algerian desert since 1975 and are totally dependent on food aid. High prevalence of overweight and obesity has been reported among Saharawi women. Limited knowledge about the prevalence of T2D and associated risk factors exists in this population; therefore, the aim with this study was to address this gap in the literature. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out in five Saharawi refugee camps, in Algeria and 180 women and 175 men were randomly selected. Participants’ blood glucose levels was assessed by HbA1c measurements and diagnosed with diabetes if HbA1c ≥48 mmol/mol and prediabetes if HbA1c was between 42–47 mmol/mol. The Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISK) was used to assess various risk factors for T2D. Results Mean HbA1c among the Saharawi refugees was 38 mmol/mol. Seven and 15% were diagnosed with T2D and prediabetes, respectively, and 26% and 19% were overweight and obese, respectively. According to FINDRISK, 9% of the participants had high risk of developing diabetes, 10% had moderate risk, 37% had some risk and 44% had low risk. In multiple logistic regression models, after controlling for age, gender, number of children, BMI and education, the strongest predictor for diabetes was waist circumference, OR (95% CI): 1.1 (1.0, 1.1). The strongest predictor for prediabetes was age and waist circumference OR (95% CI): 1.0 (1.0, 1.1) and OR (95% CI): 1.1 (1.0, 1.1), respectively. Conclusions We found moderate prevalence of diabetes among the Saharawi refugees; however a high proportion had prediabetes and were suffering from overweight and obesity. In light of this, the rates of T2D are likely to increase dramatically in the near future. The Saharawi health authorities should pay attention to the increased risk of diabetes in this in this vulnerable population. Funding Sources Oslo Metropolitan University.


2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 351-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Mancianti ◽  
Simona Nardoni ◽  
Gaetano Ariti ◽  
Dario Parlanti ◽  
Giovanna Giuliani ◽  
...  

Cats are the key species in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection, even if the proportion of subjects excreting oocysts is low. The aim of the present paper was to obtain information about seroprevalence, oocyst shedding rate and presence of T gondii DNA in faeces collected from an urban population of colony cats in Florence (Tuscany). Fifty European shorthair feral cats were examined for anti- T gondii specific antibodies by a modified agglutination test (MAT), and for oocysts by microscopic examination and for faecal protozoal DNA, by means of a nested polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR) protocol. Twenty-two out of 50 serum samples (44%) were MAT positive. T gondii oocysts were not detected in any of the examined faecal samples. Eight out of 50 faecal specimens (16%) were n-PCR positive and sequencing of the bands was specific for T gondii. Detection by combination of the two methods was higher than single techniques and enhanced the detection of T gondii up to 48%. Our results suggest that the use of MAT plus PCR in faeces may be the best choice for diagnosis of feline toxoplasmosis. Further studies to ascertain the real infectivity of the copro-PCR positive subjects are required.


Author(s):  
Yoichi Chiba ◽  
Atsuyoshi Shimada ◽  
Futoshi Yoshida ◽  
Hiromi Keino ◽  
Mariko Hasegawa ◽  
...  

Abstract Our aim was to identify risk factors for falling and establish a method to assess risk for falls in adults with intellectual disabilities. In a cross-sectional survey of 144 Japanese adults, we found that age, presence of epilepsy, and presence of paretic conditions were independent risk factors. The Tinetti balance and gait instrument was successfully administered to this population and resulted in high diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity 88.9%, specificity 91.9%) for identifying individuals at risk when the cutoff score was set at 25. Participants whose balance and gait deteriorated showed a decrease in the Tinetti score of at least 2 points per year. Thus, the Tinetti instrument may be an effective tool to detect an increased risk of fall in this population.


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