seroprevalence – Page 2 – Toxoplasma gondii & Human Phenotype

Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in drivers involved in road traffic accidents in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

October 10, 2013 Leave a Comment
Galvan-Ramirez, M. D., Sanchez-Orozco, L. V., Rodriguez, L. R., Rodriguez, S., Roig-Melo, E., Sanroman, R. T., Chiquete, E., Armendariz-Borunda, J.
In: Parasites & Vectors 2013;6:10.1186/1756-3305-6-294

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Background: The prevalence of toxoplasmosis in the general population of Guadalajara, Mexico, is around 32%. Toxoplasmosis can cause ocular lesions and slowing of reaction reflexes. Latent toxoplasmosis has been related with traffic accidents. We aimed to assess the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and visual impairments related with traffic accidents in drivers from the metropolitan Guadalajara. Methods: We prospectively evaluated the prevalence of IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies in 159 individuals involved in traffic accidents, and in 164 control drivers never involved in accidents. Cases of toxoplasmosis reactivation or acute infection were detected by PCR in a subset of 71 drivers studied for the presence of T. gondii DNA in blood samples. Ophthalmologic examinations were performed in drivers with IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies in search of ocular toxoplasmosis. Results: Fifty-four (34%) traffic accident drivers and 59 (36%) controls were positive to IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies (p = 0.70). Among the 113 seropositive participants, mean anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies titers were higher in traffic accident drivers than in controls (237.9 +/- 308.5 IU/ml vs. 122.9 +/- 112.7 IU/ml, respectively; p = 0.01 by Student's t test, p = 0.037 by Mann-Whitney U test). In multivariate analyses, anti-T. gondii IgG antibody titers were consistently associated with an increased risk of traffic accidents, whereas age showed an inverse association. The presence of IgM-anti-T. gondii antibodies was found in three (1.9%) subjects among traffic accident drives, and in two (1.2%) controls. Three (4.2%) samples were positive for the presence of T. gondii DNA, all among seropositive individuals. No signs of ocular toxoplasmosis were found in the entire cohort. Moreover, no other ocular conditions were found to be associated with the risk of traffic accidents in a multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Anti-T. gondii antibody titers are associated with the risk of traffic accidents. We could not determine any association of ocular toxoplasmosis with traffic accidents. Our results warrant further analyses in order to clarify the link between toxoplasmosis and traffic accidents

Toxoplasma gondii infection and suicide attempts a case-control study in psychiatric outpatients

October 10, 2013 114 Comments
Alvarado-Esquivel, C., Sanchez-Anguiano, L. F., Arnaud-Gil, C. A., Lopez-Longoria, J. C., Molina-Espinoza, L. F., Estrada-Martinez, S. Liesenfeld, O. Hernandez-Tinoco, J. Sifuentes-Alvarez, A. Salas-Martinez, C.
Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 2013; 201: 948-952.

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Differences in some developmental features between Toxoplasma gondii-seropositive and seronegative school children

October 9, 2013 33 Comments
Mizgajska-Wiktor, H., Jarosz, W., Andrzejewska, I., Krzykala, M., Janowski, J., Kozlowska, M.
Folia Parasitologica 2013; 60: 416-424

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The relationship between Toxoplasma gondii infection and mood disorders in the third national health and nutrition survey

October 12, 2012
Pearce, B.D., Kruszon-Moran, D., Jones, J.L.
Biological Psychiatry 2012; 72: 290-295

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Does Toxoplasma gondii play a role in obsessive-compulsive disorder?

October 11, 2012 Leave a Comment
Taboas W, McKay D, Taylor S.
Psychiatry Research 2012; 198: 176-177

Parasitic infections and pregnancy complications

October 29, 2011
Pavlinova, J., Kincekova, J., Ostro, A., Saksun, L., Vasilkova, Z., Konigova, A.
Helminthologia 2011; 48: 8-12

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Toxoplasma gondii infection and schizophrenia: A case control study in a low Toxoplasma seroprevalence Mexican population

October 19, 2011
Alvarado-Esquivel, C., Urbina-Alvarez, J. D., Estrada-Martinez, S., Torres-Castorena, A., Molotla-de-Leon, G., Liesenfeld, O., Dubey, J. P.
Parasitology International 2011; 60: 151-155

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The role of latent toxoplasmosis in the aetiopathogenesis of schizophrenia – the risk factor or an indication of a contact with cat?

October 19, 2010
Yuksel, P., Alpay, N., Babur, C., Bayar, R., Saribas, S., Karakose, A. R., Aksoy, C., Aslan, M., Mehmetali, S., Kilic, S., Balcioglu, I., Hamanca, O., Dirican, A., Kucukbasmaci, O., Oner, A., Torun, M. M., Kocazeybek, B.
Folia Parasitologica 2010; 57: 121-128

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Meta-analysis of three case controlled studies and an ecological study into the link between cryptogenic epilepsy and chronic toxoplasmosis

October 29, 2007
Palmer, B. S.
Seizure-European Journal of Epilepsy 2007;16: 657-663

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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.