congenital toxoplasmosis – Toxoplasma gondii & Human Phenotype

Sero-epidemiological status and risk factors of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Northern Vietnam

February 1, 2020
Smit, G. S. A., Vu, B. T. L., Do, D. T., Do, Q. H., Pham, H. Q., Speybroeck, N., Devleesschauwer, B., Padalko, E., Roets, E., Dorny, P.
BMC Infectious Diseases 2019, 19 Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy Congenital toxoplasmosis Seroprevalence Risk factors Prevention Vietnam congenital toxoplasmosis gondii seroprevalence antibodies infection events burden igm

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A social cost-benefit analysis of two One Health interventions to prevent toxoplasmosis

January 31, 2020
Suijkerbuijk, A. W. M., Over, E. A. B., Opsteegh, M., Deng, H. F., van Gils, P. F., Marinovic, A. A. B., Lambooij, M., Polder, J. J., Feenstra, T. L., van der Giessen, J. W. B., de Wit, G. A., Mangen, M. J. J.
PLoS ONE 2019, 14

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In the Netherlands, toxoplasmosis ranks second in disease burden among foodborne pathogens with an estimated health loss of 1,900 Disability Adjusted Life Years and a cost-of-illness estimated at (sic)45 million annually. Therefore, effective and preferably cost-effective preventive interventions are warranted. Freezing meat intended for raw or undercooked consumption and improving biosecurity in pig farms are promising interventions to prevent Toxoplasma gondii infections in humans. Putting these interventions into practice would expectedly reduce the number of infections; however, the net benefits for society are unknown. Stakeholders bearing the costs for these interventions will not necessary coincide with the ones having the benefits. We performed a Social Cost-Benefit Analysis to evaluate the net value of two potential interventions for the Dutch society. We assessed the costs and benefits of the two interventions and compared them with the current practice of education, especially during pregnancy. A 'minimum scenario' and a 'maximum scenario' was assumed, using input parameters with least benefits to society and input parameters with most benefits to society, respectively. For both interventions, we performed different scenario analyses. The freezing meat intervention was far more effective than the biosecurity intervention. Despite high freezing costs, freezing two meat products: steak tartare and mutton leg yielded net social benefits in both the minimum and maximum scenario, ranging from (sic)10.6 million to (sic)31 million for steak tartare and (sic)0.6 million to (sic)1.5 million for mutton leg. The biosecurity intervention would result in net costs in all scenarios ranging from (sic)1 million to (sic)2.5 million, due to high intervention costs and limited benefits. From a public health perspective (i.e. reducing the burden of toxoplasmosis) and the societal perspective (i.e. a net benefit for the Dutch society) freezing steak tartare and leg of mutton is to be considered.

Toxoplasma gondii: Biological parameters of the connection to schizophrenia

February 12, 2018
Xiao, J. C. ,Prandovszky, E. , Kannan,G., Pletnikov, M. V. Dickerson, ,F. , Severance , E. G., Yolken, R. H.
Schizophrenia Bulletin 2018; 44: 983-992

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Toxoplasmosis, the insidious parasitic infection: dangers of asymptomatic carrier state

December 8, 2017
Bognar, L., Izso, T., Szakos, D., Kasza, G.
Magyar Allatorvosok Lapja 2017;139:479-487

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Background: The highly prevalent parasitic infection of humans, toxoplasmosis, can have serious consequences even during an asymptomatic course of the disease. The causative agente of infection is Toxoplasma gondii, which proliferates in the intestine of cats. Risk of infection by direct contact with cats is low, but the infection can occur due to contaminated soil, water, unwashed vegetables and fruits, as well as insufficiently heat-treated meat. Objectives: The aim of this study was to synthesize the current knowledge about infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii in a brief review focusing on latent toxoplasmosis in humans. Materials and Methods: More than hundred articles, studies and reports from scientific journals were considered to summarize the infection's characteristics such as prevalence and symptoms in humans. Results and Discussion: The symptoms of acute toxoplasmosis are either featureless, or non-existent, although, for people with immunosuppression it can be fatal, and for expectants it can result in foetal harm. The detection of the infection is conducted with serology methods, however, only in a few European countries are general screenings present. The asymptomatic carrier state is dangerous as well, because the cysts subsist in the brain of the host, which affects behaviour, the regulation of emotions, and also the level of several hormones. The latent toxoplasmosis can be connected to aggression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar personality disorder, suicidal inclination, depression, and the reduction in intelligence quotient. For the reason of the deterioration of reaction time, the disease increases the risk of traffic accidents. The latent toxoplasmosis also influences personality traits; for women and men the alteration of the personality change differs. There is no data on the current epidemiological situation in Hungary, and not even in Europe. A research regarding the extent of asymptomatic carrier state and about the psychological changes in the Hungarian population has not been conducted so far.

Prenatal toxoplasmosis antibody and childhood autism

October 2, 2017
Spann, M. N., Sourander, A., Surcel, H. M., Hinkka-Yli-Salomaki, S., Brown, A. S.
Autism Research 2017; 10: 769-777

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Schizophrenia and infections: The eyes have it

January 3, 2017
Torrey, E. F. ,Yolken, R. H.
Schizophrenia Bulletin 2017; 43: 247-252

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Maternal T-gondii, offspring bipolar disorder and neurocognition

January 4, 2016
Freedman, D., Bao, Y. Y., Shen, L., Schaefer, C. A., Brown, A. S.
Psychiatry Research 2016, 243: 382-389

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Is toxoplasmosis a potential risk factor for liver cirrhosis?

October 9, 2015
El-Henawy, A. A., Razik, A. A., Zakaria, S., Elhammady, D., Saudy, N., Azab, M. S.
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 2015; 8: 768-775

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Toxoplasmosis and epilepsy – systematic review and meta analysis

October 6, 2015
Ngoungou, E. B., Bhalla, D., Nzoghe, A., Darde, M. L., Preux, P. M.
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2015; 9

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Seroprevalence and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in cancer patients in Anhui Province, Eastern China

October 6, 2015
Wang, L., He, L. Y., Meng, D. D., Chen, Z. W., Wen, H., Fang, G. S., Luo, Q. L., Huang, K. Q., Shen, J. L.
Parasites & Vectors 2015; 8.

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Background: Recent studies have indicated the predominance of Toxoplasma gondii genotype Chinese 1 in animals in China. However, little is known of the genetic features of the parasite in humans. This study aims to determine the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies based on which the genetic character of the parasite was identified in cancer patients in China. Methods: A total of 1014 serum samples with malignant neoplasms were collected from six tertiary-care hospitals (HAUCM, APH, HAMU, XAH, FHH and HBMC) from January, 2012 to August, 2013. Antibodies against T. gondii were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Blood samples were subsequently used for PCR assay to detect T. gondii DNA (gra6). The DNA positive samples were subjected to genotyping using a multiplex multilocus nested PCR-RFLP at 10 loci, including sag1, sag2, sag3, btub, gra6, l358, c22-8, c29-2, pk1 and apico. Samples from the patients were anonymous and only data with regard to age and gender was available at sample collection. Results: Overall, 8.38% (85/1014) of the examined patients showed positive antibodies against T. gondii. Among them, 61 (6.02%) were seropositive only for IgG, 16 (1.58%) were only for IgM, and 8 (0.79%) were found to be positive for both IgG and IgM. The seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma ranged from 5.8% to 11.0%, without regional difference (x(2) = 4.764, P = 0.445). No significant differences of the positive rates of T. gondii infection were noted in genders (male, 8.96%; female, 7.45%) (x(2) = 0.707, P = 0.400) and in ages (x(2) = 1.172, P = 0.947). Of 1014 DNA samples, 36 (3.55%) were positive for T. gondii by nested PCR at gra6 locus and nine gave rise to complete genotyping results. All samples with achieved PCR-RFLP genotyping showed a common genetic character of type Chinese 1 (ToxoDB#9). Conclusion: Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in immunosuppressed individuals is rarely reported in China and we presented a positive rate of 8.38% in cancer patients. Toxoplasma genomic DNA genotyping demonstrated a common genetic character of Chinese 1, indicating a possible pathogenic origin of animals in human infection.

Possible link between Toxoplasma gondii and the anosmia associated with neurodegenerative diseases

October 10, 2014
Prandota J.
American Journal of Alzheimers Disease and Other Dementias 2014; 29: 205-214

Neuropsychiatric manifestations of latent toxoplasmosis on mothers and their offspring

October 10, 2014
Abdoli, A., Dalimi, A., Arbabi, M., Ghaffarifar, F.
Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine 2014; 27: 1368-1374

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Estimating the population attributable fraction for schizophrenia when Toxoplasma gondii is assumed absent in human populations

October 9, 2014
Smith G.
Preventive Veterinary Medicine 2014; 117: 425-435

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Serologic detection of anti Toxoplasma gondii infection in diabetic patients

October 10, 2013
Shirbazou, S., Delpisheh, A., Mokhetari, R., Tavakoli, G.
Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal 2013; 15: 701-703

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Toxoplasma gondii and male reproduction impairment: A new aspect of toxoplasmosis research

October 10, 2013
Dalimi A, Abdoli A.
Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology 2013; 6.

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Toxoplasma gondii and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia: An animal model perspective

October 12, 2012
Kannan, G., Pletnikov, M.V.
Schizophrenia Bulletin 2012; 38: 1155-1161

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Latent toxoplasmosis and human

January 10, 2012
Dalimi, A., Abdoli, A.
Iranian Journal of Parasitology 2012; 7: 1-17

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Toxoplasmosis: A history of clinical observations

October 29, 2009
Weiss, L..M., Dubey, J.P.
International Journal for Parasitology 2009; 39 :1217-1258

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Serological pattern consistent with infection with type I Toxoplasma gondii in mothers and risk of psychosis among adult offspring

October 26, 2009
Xiao, J.C., Buka, S. L., Cannon, T.D., Suzuki, Y., Viscidi, R.P., Torrey, E. F., Yolken, R. H.
Microbes and Infection 2009; 11: 1011-1018.

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Toxoplasma and schizophrenia

October 26, 2009
Yolken, R.H., Dickerson, F.B, Torrey, E.F.
Parasite Immunology 2009; 31: 706-715.

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Screening for Toxoplasma infection before infertility treatment

November 7, 2002
Janitschke, K., Stoffels, G., Schleyer, K., Kentenich, H.
Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde 2002; 62: 465-469.

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Rats, cats, people and parasites: the impact of latent toxoplasmosis on behaviour

November 7, 2001
Webster, J. P.
Microbes and Infection 2001; 3: 1037-1045

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Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern China

December 8, 1970
Tian, A. L., Gu, Y. L., Zhou, N., Cong, W., Li, G. X., Elsheikha, H. M., Zhu, X. Q.
Infectious Diseases of Poverty 1970; 6

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Background: There is accumulating evidence for an increased susceptibility to infection in patients with arthritis. We sought to understand the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern China, given the paucity of data on the magnitude of T. gondii infection in these patients. Methods: Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a crude antigen of the parasite in 820 arthritic patients, and an equal number of healthy controls, from Qingdao and Weihai cities, eastern China. Sociodemographic, clinical and lifestyle information on the study participants were also obtained. Results: The prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG was significantly higher in arthritic patients (18.8%) compared with 12% in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Twelve patients with arthritis had anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies - comparable with 10 control patients (1.5% vs 1.2%). Demographic factors did not significantly influence these seroprevalence frequencies. The highest T. gondii infection seropositivity rate was detected in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (24.8%), followed by reactive arthritis (23.8%), osteoarthritis (19%), infectious arthritis (18.4%) and gouty arthritis (14.8%). Seroprevalence rates of rheumatoid arthritis and reactive arthritis were significantly higher when compared with controls (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). A significant association was detected between T. gondii infection and cats being present in the home in arthritic patients (odds ratio [OR], 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24 - 2.28; P = 0.001). Conclusions: These findings are consistent with and extend previous results, providing further evidence to support a link between contact with cats and an increased risk of T. gondii infection. Our study is also the first to confirm an association between T. gondii infection and arthritis patients in China. Implications for better prevention and control of T. gondii infection in arthritis patients are discussed.