scholarly journals Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Toxoplasma gondii Infection Among High-Risk Populations in Jiangsu Province, Eastern China

Author(s):  
Fanzhen Mao ◽  
Yougui Yang ◽  
Yuying Chen ◽  
Qiang Zhang ◽  
Xin Ding ◽  
...  

Toxoplasma gondii, an opportunistic protozoan, infects one-third of people worldwide and could lead to serious outcomes in immunodeficient or immunocompromised populations. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for T. gondii infection among high-risk populations in Jiangsu Province, eastern China. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 4 categories of populations in 13 prefectures including HIV/AIDS patients, livestock breeding/processing (B/P) staff, pregnant women, and cancer patients. We detected specific immunoglobulin G and M (IgG and IgM) levels for each participant using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and asked to complete a questionnaire for each participant that covered sociodemographic information as well as the basic knowledge of attitudes toward and the practices for the prevention of toxoplasmosis. A total of 5231 participants distributed across 13 prefecture-level cities was surveyed, including 2455 males and 2776 females. Total seropositivity rate in each population category was as follows: 9.08% (HIV/AIDS patients), 11.65% (livestock B/P staff), 5.50% (pregnant women), and 12.89% (cancer patients). We detected IgM positivity in HIV/AIDS patients (0.47%, 6/1289), livestock B/P staff (0.08%, 1/1330), and cancer patients (0.46%, 6/1303) but not in pregnant women. Further, we detected IgM+IgG positivity only in cancer patients (0.31%, 4/1303). The seropositivity rate for pregnant women was significantly lower, while cancer patients were significantly higher. Higher educational levels were associated with lower seropositivity rates for T. gondii infection. High seropositivity rates were associated with long period of HIV infection among HIV/AIDS patients, frequent contact with livestock among livestock breeding/processing staff and male older patients among cancer patients, respectively. Analysis of practices across all participants showed that frequent contact with pets in everyday life or using the same cutting board for both raw and cooked foods leads to higher seropositivity rates. Therefore, we obtained the seroprevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis among high-risk populations in Jiangsu Province which could provide evidence for the implementation of control measures in the near future.

2014 ◽  
Vol V (10) ◽  
pp. 17-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anteneh HAILU HAILU ◽  
Kassahun NEGASHE NEGASHE ◽  
Aweke TASE TASEW ◽  
Medhint GETACH GETACHEW ◽  
Tesfaye SISAY SISAY ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Hasan Rafati-Sajedi ◽  
Bijan Majidi-Shad ◽  
Reza Jafari-Shakib ◽  
Zahra Atrkar-Roshan ◽  
Mohammad Reza Mahmoudi ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Cok Istri Sri Dharma Astiti ◽  
A.A Sagung Sawitri ◽  
Tuti Parwati

Background and purpose: The incidence of first line ART failure is increasing in the South East Asia region. The main referral hospital in Bali has recorded an increased use of second line ART due to the first line ART failure. This study aims to explore risk factors associated to first line ART failure.Methods: A case control study was conducted among people living with HIV and AIDS at Sanglah Hospital Denpasar who started first line ART between 2004 and 2013. Cases were those who diagnosed as having clinical treatment failure and still on treatment in 2015. Controls were those with no treatment failure. Sex and year of ART initiation were matched between case and control. Data were obtained from medical records that include initial regiments, HIV mode of transmission, the WHO HIV clinical stage, CD4 count, opportunistic infections, body mass index, hemoglobin level, and drug substitution at the beginning and during treatment. Risk factors were analysed using logistic regression.Results: Out of 68 HIV/AIDS patients with clinical ART failure, 72.1% were confirmed with immunological and 36.8% were confirmed with virological failure. Median time before treatment failure was 3.5 years. Factors associated to ART failure were HIV clinical stage IV with (AOR=3.43; 95%CI=1.65-7.13) and being widow/widower (AOR=4.85; 95%CI=1.52-15.53). Patients with TB co-infection have a lower risk for treatment failure due to early diagnosis and treatment through TB-HIV program with (AOR=0.32; 95%CI=0.14-0.70).Conclusions: Higher HIV clinical stage at ART initiation increases the risk of treatment failure. HIV-TB co-infection indirectly reduces the risk of treatment failure.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwkab A. R. Al-Barhami ◽  
Rashad Abdul-Ghani ◽  
Salah A. Al-Qobati

Abstract Background: Intestinal microsporidiosis is an opportunistic infection associated with persistent diarrhea among HIV/AIDS patients. In Yemen, however, its epidemiology is unknown. Therefore, this study determined its prevalence and predictors among HIV/AIDS patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Sana'a city, Yemen.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 402 patients receiving ART at Al-Jomhori Educational Hospital in Sana'a from November 2019 to December 2020. Data about demographics, clinical characteristics and risk factors were collected using a pre-designed questionnaire. Stool samples were collected and examined for microsporidian spores using the Gram-chromotrope Kinyoun staining. Blood samples were also collected and used for CD4 cell counting by flow cytometry. Univariate analysis was used to test the association of patients’ characteristics and risk factors with intestinal microsporidiosis. Multivariable logistic regression was then used to identify the independent predictors of infection. Statistical significance was considered at P-values <0.05. Results: Intestinal microsporidiosis was prevalent among 14.2% (57/402) of HIV/AIDS patients but was not significantly associated with any of the studied demographics, source of drinking water, bathing and/or swimming outdoors, contact with soil, presence of domestic animals or indiscriminate defecation. However, it was significantly associated with diarrhea (OR=3.4, 95% CI: 1.7–6.6; P=0.001) and <200 CD4 cells/µl (OR=2.7, 95% CI: 1.5–5.0; P=0.001). The significant independent predictors of infection were <200 CD4 cells/µl (AOR=3.2, 95% CI: 1.5–6.9; P=0.003), not washing hands after contacting soil (AOR=2.5, 95% CI: 1.1–5.4; P=0.026) and before eating (AOR=3.1, 95% CI: 1.5–6.4; P=0.003), eating unwashed raw produce (AOR=2.5, 95% CI: 1.2–5.3; P=0.017) and absence of indoor latrines (AOR=6.2, 95% CI: 1.5–25.9; P=0.012).Conclusions: The prevalence of intestinal microsporidiosis among HIV/AIDS patients in Sana'a is high and comparable to that several other countries, being prevalent among approximately 14.0% of patients and significantly associated with diarrhea. It could be predicted among patients who have <200 CD4 cells/µl, poor hand hygiene after contacting soil and before eating, usually eat unwashed raw produce and do not possess indoor latrines. Large-scale studies on its epidemiology and predictors among HIV/AIDS patients across the country are warranted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-74
Author(s):  
Ratih Mega Septiasari ◽  
Nurya Viandika

AbstrakWanita hamil adalah salah satu kelompok khusus yang berisiko tinggi tertular virus Covid-19.Faktor risiko terbesar untuk mengalami berbagai tekanan psikologis adalah perempuan dan tenaga kesehatan serta populasi rentan seperti ibu hamil. Ketakutan dan kekhawatiran muncul dari bahaya yang memang ada, tetapi banyak juga yang muncul dari kurangnya pengetahuan dan informasi yang salah. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui hubungan pengetahuan Covid-19 dengan kecemasan ibu hamil pada saat pandemi Covid-19 di Malang Jawa Timur Indonesia. Penelitian dilakukan pada bulan November hingga Desember 2020 dan merupakan penelitian desain cross-sectional dengan menggunakan kuesioner  yang diberikan kepada 52 ibu hamil. Berdasarkan tabel 4 didapatkan p-value 0,029 (sig<0,05) yang menunjukkan bahwa ada hubungan yang signifikan antara pengetahuan dengan kecemasan ibu hamil selama pandemi Covid-19. Sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa pengetahuan merupakan factor penting bagi ibu hamil karena dapat mempengaruhi perilaku ibu selama hamil. Sehingga diharapkan edukasi yang optimal dari petugas kesehatan bagi para ibu agar dapat menjalani kehamilan sejahtera serta ibu dan janin tetap sehat selama pandemi Covid-19. Kata kunci: pengetahuan, kecemasan, kehamilan, pandemi covid-19  AbstractPregnant women are one of the special groups that are at high risk for the Covid-19 virus. The biggest risk factors for experiencing various psychological distresses are women and health workers as well as vulnerable populations such as pregnant women. Fear and worry arise from dangers that do exist, but many also arise from lack of knowledge and misinformation. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between Covid-19 knowledge and anxiety of pregnant women during the Covid-19 pandemic at Malang, East Java Indonesia. The study was conducted from November to December 2020 and is a cross-sectional design study using a questionnaire given to 52 of pregnant women. Based on the table 4, the p-value is 0.029 (sig <0.05), which indicates that there is a significant correlation between the knowledge and the anxiety of pregnant women during the Covid-19 pandemic. So it can be concluded that knowledge is an important factor for pregnant women because it can affect the behavior of the mother during pregnancy. So it is hoped that optimal education from health workers for mothers to be able to undergo a prosperous pregnancy so that mothers and fetuses remain healthy during the Covid-19 pandemic. Keywords: knowledge, anxiety, pregnancy, covid-19 pandemic


Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (10) ◽  
pp. 1712-1723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmijn F. Timp ◽  
Sigrid K. Braekkan ◽  
Henri H. Versteeg ◽  
Suzanne C. Cannegieter

Abstract Cancer-associated venous thrombosis is a common condition, although the reported incidence varies widely between studies depending on patient population, start and duration of follow-up, and the method of detecting and reporting thrombotic events. Furthermore, as cancer is a heterogeneous disease, the risk of venous thrombosis depends on cancer types and stages, treatment measures, and patient-related factors. In general, cancer patients with venous thrombosis do not fare well and have an increased mortality compared with cancer patients without. This may be explained by the more aggressive type of malignancies associated with this condition. It is hypothesized that thromboprophylaxis in cancer patients might improve prognosis and quality of life by preventing thrombotic events. However, anticoagulant treatment leads to increased bleeding, particularly in this patient group, so in case of proven benefit of thromboprophylaxis, only patients with a high risk of venous thrombosis should be considered. This review describes the literature on incidence of and risk factors for cancer-associated venous thrombosis, with the aim to provide a basis for identification of high-risk patients and for further development and refinement of prediction models. Furthermore, knowledge on risk factors for cancer-related venous thrombosis may enhance the understanding of the pathophysiology of thrombosis in these patients.


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