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Toxoplasma gondii , a ubiquitous zoonotic parasite infecting warm-blooded animals, poses a significant health threat to workers with occupational animal exposure (WOEA) due to their frequent contact with potential reservoirs. Existing data on T. gondii seroprevalence in the WOEA exhibits substantial global variation. This systematic review and meta-analysis, adhering to PRISMA guidelines, aimed to quantify the global seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among WOEA over the past five decades (1972-2023). We identified 66 eligible studies through a comprehensive search strategy encompassing English publications, with a total sample size of 15,279. A random-effects model with the Freeman-Tukey transformation in STATA v16.0 accounted for the high heterogeneity observed. We estimated the pooled global seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in WOEA at 41% (95% CI: 36-47%). Subgroup analyses revealed significant variations by gender: males (63%) vs. females (37%) ( p  < 0.05), occupation: non-livestock workers (54%), livestock workers (47%), slaughterhouse workers (44%), and veterinary personnel (27%) ( p  < 0.05). Geographic trends showed the highest prevalence in Africa (51%), followed by South America (49%), Europe (47%), Australia (43%), Asia (36%), and North America (23%; p  < 0.05). Lower prevalence was observed in high-income (39%) and upper-middle-income (38%) countries compared to lower-middle-income (44%) and low-income (48%) countries ( p  < 0.05). This analysis underscores the high global seroprevalence of T. gondii in the WOEA, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in this high-risk population.

Purpose: Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most widespread parasites in the human population globally. Several modes of its transmission have been proposed: some are well-researched and confirmed, others remain unconfirmed. One unconfirmed hypothesis pertains to potential transmission of Toxoplasma gondii via oral sex (fellatio) in humans. A recent study found tissue cysts in the semen of men with latent toxoplasmosis. Therefore, we aimed to test the hypothesis of Toxoplasma gondii transmission through oral sex experimentally., Methods: Eighty-two laboratory mice were orally administered semen samples from 41 men with latent toxoplasmosis. These semen samples were examined for the presence of Toxoplasma gondii DNA using PCR., Results: We detected Toxoplasma gondii DNA in three of the 41 semen samples from men with latent toxoplasmosis. Oral administration of semen samples to laboratory mice did not result in parasite transmission., Conclusion: We have not demonstrated the transmission of Toxoplasma to mice by oral exposure to semen from infected men. While this does not conclusively rule out the possibility of such transmission in humans, the results suggest that, if it does occur, this mode of transmission is likely infrequent., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Toxoplasma infection in humans is considered due to direct contact with infected cats. Toxoplasma infection (an endemic disease) has the potential to affect various organs and systems (brain, eyes, heart, lungs, liver, and lymph nodes). Bilinear incidence rate and constant population (birth rate is equal to death rate) are used in the literature to explain the dynamics of Toxoplasmosis disease transmission in humans and cats. The goal of this study is to consider the mathematical model of Toxoplasma disease with harmonic mean type incident rate and also consider that the population of humans and cats is not equal (birth rate and the death rate are not equal). In examining Toxoplasma transmission dynamics in humans and cats, harmonic mean incidence rates are better than bilinear incidence rates. The disease dynamics are first schematically illustrated, and then the law of mass action is applied to obtain nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). Analysis of the boundedness, positivity, and equilibrium points of the system has been analyzed. The reproduction number is calculated using the next-generation matrix technique. The stability of disease-free and endemic equilibrium are analyzed. Sensitivity analysis is also done for reproduction number. Numerical simulation shows that the infection is spread in the population when the contact rate β h and β c increases while the infection is reduced when the recovery rate δ h increases. This study investigates the impact of various optimal control strategies, such as vaccinations for the control of disease and the awareness of disease awareness, on the management of disease., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic infection that can be transmitted in utero, resulting in fetal chorioretinitis and other long-term neurological outcomes. If diagnosed early, pregnancy-safe chemotherapeutics can prevent vertical transmission. Unfortunately, diagnosis of acute, primary infection among pregnant women remains neglected, particularly in low-and-middle-income countries. Clinically actionable diagnosis is complex due to the commonality of infection during childhood and early adulthood which spawn long-last antibody titers and historically unreliable direct molecular diagnostics. The current study employed a cross-sectional T. gondii perinatal surveillance study using digital PCR, a next generation molecular diagnostic platform, and a maternal-fetal outcomes survey to ascertain the risk of vertical toxoplasmosis transmission in the Western Region of El Salvador. Of 198 enrolled mothers at the time of childbirth, 6.6% had evidence of recent T. gondii infection-85% of these cases were identified using digital PCR. Neonates born to these acutely infected mothers were significantly more likely to meconium aspiration syndrome and mothers were more likely to experience labor and delivery complications. Multivariable logistic regression found higher maternal T. gondii infection odds were associated with the presence of pet cats, the definitive T. gondii host. In closing, this study provides evidence of maternal T. gondii infection, vertical transmission and deleterious fetal outcomes in a vulnerable population near the El Salvador-Guatemala border. Further, this is the first published study to show clinical utility potential of digital PCR for accurate diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis cases., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Lynn et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

The aim of the study was to describe the pregnancy outcome of a large cohort of women with toxoplasmosis seroconversion in pregnancy and to investigate the relation between maternal lymphadenopathy and risk of congenital toxoplasmosis (CT). This was a retrospective study involving women with confirmed toxoplasmosis seroconversion in pregnancy between 2001 and 2017. Women were clinically evaluated for lymphadenopathy and classified as follows: lymphadenopathy absent (L-) or lymphadenopathy present (L+). The mothers were treated and followed-up according to local protocol, and neonates were monitored at least for 1 year in order to diagnose CT. A total of 218 women (one twin pregnancy) were included in the analysis. Pregnancy outcome was as follows: 149 (68%) of children not infected, 62 (28.3%) infected, 4 (1.8%) first trimester termination of pregnancy, 2 (0.9%) first trimester miscarriages, and 3 (1.4%) stillbirths (of which one already counted in the infected cohort). 13.8% of women were L+ , and they were nearly three times more likely to have a child with CT compared to L- women (aOR, 2.90; 95%CI, 1.28-6.58). Moreover, the result was still statistically significant when the analysis was restricted to 81 children whose mothers were clinically examined and received treatment within 5 weeks from estimated time of infection. In conclusion, there is a positive association between L+ status in pregnant women, and risk of CT also confirmed when restricting the analysis to women with early diagnosis of seroconversion and treatment. This data could be very useful in counselling pregnant women with toxoplasmosis seroconversion and lead to direct a more specific therapeutic and diagnostic protocol., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Infection with Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii ) during the pregnant period and its potentially miserable outcomes for the fetus, newborn, and even adult offspring continuously occur worldwide. People acquire infection through the consumption of infected and undercooked meat or contaminated food or water. T. gondii infection in pregnant women primarily during the gestation causes microcephaly, mental and psychomotor retardation, or death. Abnormal pregnancy outcomes are mainly associated with regulatory T cell (Treg) dysfunction. Tregs, a special subpopulation of T cells, function as a vital regulator in maintaining immune homeostasis. Tregs exert a critical effect on forming and maintaining maternal-fetal tolerance and promoting fetal development during the pregnancy period. Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), a significant functional factor of Tregs, determines the status of Tregs. In this review, we summarize the effects of T. gondii infection on host Tregs and its critical transcriptional factor, Foxp3., Competing Interests: All authors state that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Xuyang Gao et al.)

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 ( Tg CDPK1) 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 Tg CDPK1 is a promising candidate for the development of alternative therapeutics to treat infected pregnant women.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is known for its ability to infect warm-blooded vertebrates. Although T. gondii does not appear to parasitize cold-blooded animals, the occurrence of T. gondii infection in marine mammals raises concerns that cold-blooded animals (frogs, toad, turtles, crocodiles, snakes, and fish) and shellfish are potential sources of T. gondii. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to determine the prevalence of T. gondii in mollusks and cold-blooded animals worldwide. We searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to 1 August 2020 for eligible papers in the English language and identified 26 articles that reported the prevalence of T. gondii in mollusks and cold-blooded animals. These articles were subsequently reviewed and data extracted using a standard form. In total, 26 studies [involving 9 cross-sectional studies including 2988 samples of cold-blooded animals (129 positive cases for T. gondii) and 18 cross-sectional studies entailing 13 447 samples of shellfish (692 positive cases for T. gondii)] were included in this study. Although this study showed that shellfish and cold-blooded animals could be potential sources of T. gondii for humans and other hosts that feed on them, further investigations are recommended to determine the prevalence of T. gondii in shellfish and cold-blooded animals.

Felidae as definitive hosts for Toxoplasma gondii play a major role in transmission to all warm-blooded animals trough oocysts dissemination. Therefore the current comprehensive study was performed to determine the global status of T. gondii infection in domestic and wild felids aiming to provide comprehensive data of interest for further intervention approaching the One Health perspective. Different databases were searched by utilizing particular key words for publications related to T. gondii infecting domestic and wild feline host species, worldwide, from 1970 to 2020. The review of 337 reports showed that the seroprevalence of T. gondii in domestic cats and wild felids was estimated in 37.5% (95% CI 34.7-40.3) (I 2  = 98.3%, P < 0.001) and 64% (95% CI 60-67.9) (I 2  = 88%, P < 0.0001), respectively. The global pooled prevalence of oocysts in the fecal examined specimens from domestic cats was estimated in 2.6% (95% CI 1.9-3.3) (I 2  = 96.1%, P < 0.0001), and that in fecal samples from wild felids was estimated in 2.4% (95% CI 1.1-4.2) (I 2  = 86.4%, P < 0.0001). In addition, from 13,252 examined soil samples in 14 reviewed studies, the pooled occurrence of T. gondii oocysts was determined in 16.2% (95% CI 7.66-27.03%). The observed high rates of anti-T. gondii antibodies seroprevalence levels and oocyst excretion frequency in the felids, along with soil (environmental) contamination with oocysts may constitute a potential threat to animal and public health, and data will result of interest in further prophylaxis programs.

The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii exposure in Inuit living in Nunavut (20%) is twice that of the US (11%); however, routes of exposure for Inuit communities in North America are unclear. Exposure to T. gondii in humans has been linked with consumption of raw or undercooked shellfish that can accumulate environmentally resistant oocysts. Bivalve shellfish, such as clams, are an important, nutritious, affordable and accessible source of food in many Northern Communities. To date, presence of T. gondii in clams in Northern Canada has not been reported. In this study, we tested for T. gondii presence in clams (Mya truncata) that were harvested in Iqaluit, Nunavut over a 1-week period in September 2016. Of 390 clams, eight (2.1%) were confirmed to contain T. gondii DNA (≥99.7% identity), as determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence confirmation. Additionally, three clams (0.8%) were confirmed to contain Neospora caninum-like DNA (≥99.2% identity). While N. caninum is not known to be a zoonotic pathogen, its presence in shellfish indicates contamination of the nearshore with canid faeces, and the potential for marine mammal exposure through marine food webs. Notably, the PCR assay employed in this study does not discriminate between viable and non-viable parasites. These findings suggest a possible route for parasite exposure through shellfish in Iqaluit, Nunavut. Future research employing viability testing will further inform public health messaging on the infectious potential of T. gondii in shellfish., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. The ingestion of food or water contaminated with oocysts excreted by infected cats or ingestion of uncooked or undercooked meat containing tissue cysts of T. gondii are the 2 major modes of transmission of T. gondii. Deer are a popular game. Recently, outbreaks of clinical toxoplasmosis were reported in humans in North America linked to ingestion of undercooked venison. Here, we review prevalence, persistence of infection, clinical disease, epidemiology, and public health risks of T. gondii infections in deer and other cervids for the past decade. Estimates of worldwide serological prevalence are summarized individually for each species of deer, elk, moose, and caribou. Genetic diversity of 112 viable isolates of T. gondii from cervids is discussed, including its public health significance. Prevalence of T. gondii in deer is very high. Any part of a deer, including liver, spleen, and muscles, should be cooked thoroughly before human consumption., (© American Society of Parasitologists 2021.)

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease of global distribution and importance. It is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, the only species in the Toxoplasma genus. This parasite can infect most warm-blooded animals, including humans and livestock. Main routes of transmission are by ingestion of tissue cysts in raw or undercooked meat of infected animals, ingestion of raw vegetables or water contaminated with T. gondii oocysts from cat feces, and transplacental. Around one-third of human beings are chronically infected with T. gondii. Most infections appear to be asymptomatic in immunocompetent persons, but toxoplasmosis can be fatal to the fetus and immunocompromised adults. Water and foodborne outbreaks have been caused by this parasite worldwide, but few are well documented. Importantly, T. gondii is a parasite of high importance in animal health, causing reproductive failure, particularly in small ruminants, and clinical toxoplasmosis in many species. This overview discusses the knowledge of T. gondii infections in the last decade focusing on the foodborne transmission of this parasite., (Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Humans, wildlife, and domestic animals are intimately linked through shared infections. Many parasites and pathogens use multiple host species, either opportunistically or sequentially, such that managing disease risk frequently requires a broader understanding of the ecological community. The coccidian protozoan Toxoplasma gondii infects more than one hundred species of vertebrates, ranging from bats to beluga whales. In humans, acute toxoplasmosis can have serious health consequences for immunocompromised individuals. Even amongst asymptomatic patients, however, toxoplasmosis has been linked to a range of behavioral alterations and conditions, such as changes in risk tolerance, neuroticism, mental illness, suicide, and accident proneness. Whether such links are causal or simply correlational has been the subject of intense study and debate; from an evolutionary standpoint, selection may favor parasite-induced alterations in host behavior that increase the likelihood a host is consumed by the definitive host-in this case a domestic or wild felid. Here, we examine current evidence for parasite-induced manipulations of host behavior, in both humans and other animals. We critically evaluate proposed mechanisms through which infection might influence host behavior, which range from inflammation in the brain to changes in hormones or neurotransmitters. Considering estimates that T. gondii may infect up to one-third of the global human population, we conclude by examining the implications of these changes for human behavior, individual fitness, and emergent cultural properties.

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most widespread human parasitoses in developed countries. Sexual transmission has been confirmed in several animal species, and indirect evidence suggests it may occur in humans. We compared the seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii in couples who visited the Center for Assisted Reproduction in Prague from June 2016 to June 2018 and analyzed various risk factors including the serological status of sexual partner. By comparing the risk factors in men and women, we tested the hypothesis of male-to-female sexual transmission of toxoplasmosis. The prevalence of toxoplasmosis in women with infected male partners (25.6%; n = 156) was higher than in women with uninfected male partners (18.2%; n = 477; P = 0.045). Therefore, a partner's seropositivity seems to be a risk factor for infection in women (n = 593; prevalence ratio = 1.418; P = 0.045) but not in men (n = 573; prevalence ratio = 1.058; P = 0.816). Our results support the hypothesis of the sexual transmission of T. gondii from men to women. The risk may seem relatively low, but transmission can occur during unprotected sexual intercourse, which may be at the time of conception. Because of the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis, a lower risk of infection than that observed in our study can represent a serious health problem., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Toxoplasma gondii is a globally distributed protozoan that mainly causes health issues in the fetuses of pregnant women who have never been exposed to this parasite and patients with deficient immune systems. Except in these vulnerable populations, the primary infection generally goes unnoticed in most healthy individuals. Apart from transplant/transfusion, congenital transmission, direct contact with infected cats or their feces, and environmental contamination ( i.e ., oocysts in food, water, and soil) pathways, humans can acquire the parasite through consumption of animal tissues infected by T. gondii . This meta-analysis estimated the risk of acquiring T. gondii by consuming raw or undercooked meat, regardless of which animal species are eaten. Using a random-effect model, crude and adjusted pooled measures of association (risk and odds ratio) were estimated according to study design (cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies). The meta-analysis included measures of heterogeneity as well as quality rating scales for each study design. Our results suggest that individuals who eat raw or undercooked meat have, respectively, 1.2-1.3 times the risk and 1.7-3.0 times the odds of T. gondii infection compared to those who thoroughly cook meat, regardless of the animal species they consume. These results align with the current understanding that adequately cooking meat inactivates the parasite and decreases the risk of transmission. Seroprevalence ranged from 1.3% to 88.6%, while the proportion of individuals eating raw or undercooked meat fluctuated from 0.7% to 98.3% across the studies in the meta-analysis. These numbers reflect various preferences with regard to eating meat ( i.e ., eating tartar, sausages, or salamis) as well as individual, cultural and religious food habits, and personal awareness.

A key strategy that many parasites use to facilitate transmission involves behavioral modification of their hosts. Toxoplasma gondii has been taken as an example for this strategy. A recent study by Boillat et al. reported that attraction to predator odor following Toxoplasma infection is not specific to felines., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is an important cause of miscarriage or adverse fetal effects, including neurological and ocular manifestations in humans. Current anti-Toxoplasma drugs have limited efficacy against toxoplasmosis and also have severe side effects. Therefore, novel efficacious drugs are urgently needed. Here, we identified metacytofilin (MCF) from a fungal Metarhizium species as a potential anti-Toxoplasma compound., Methods: Anti-Toxoplasma activities of MCF and its derivatives were evaluated in vitro and in vivo using nonpregnant and pregnant mice. To understand the mode of action of MCF, the RNA expression of host and parasite genes was investigated by RNAseq., Results: In vitro, MCF inhibited the viability of intracellular and extracellular T. gondii. Administering MCF intraperitoneally or orally to mice after infection with T. gondii tachyzoites increased mouse survival compared with the untreated animals. Remarkably, oral administration of MCF to pregnant mice prevented vertical transmission of the parasite. Interestingly, RNA sequencing of T. gondii-infected cells treated with MCF showed that MCF inhibited DNA replication and enhanced RNA degradation in the parasites., Conclusions: With its potent anti-T. gondii activity, MCF is a strong candidate for future drug development against toxoplasmosis., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

In rodents, the decrease of felid aversion induced by Toxoplasma gondii, a phenomenon termed fatal attraction, is interpreted as an adaptive manipulation by the neurotropic protozoan parasite. With the aim of understanding how the parasite induces such specific behavioral modifications, we performed a multiparametric analysis of T. gondii-induced changes on host behavior, physiology, and brain transcriptome as well as parasite cyst load and distribution. Using a set of complementary behavioral tests, we provide strong evidence that T. gondii lowers general anxiety in infected mice, increases explorative behaviors, and surprisingly alters predator aversion without selectivity toward felids. Furthermore, we show a positive correlation between the severity of the behavioral alterations and the cyst load, which indirectly reflects the level of inflammation during brain colonization. Taken together, these findings refute the myth of a selective loss of cat fear in T. gondii-infected mice and point toward widespread immune-related alterations of behaviors., (Copyright © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Infections by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii are widely prevalent in humans and animals in Turkey but little is known of the burden of their clinical toxoplasmosis. Many early papers on toxoplasmosis in Turkey were published in Turkish and often not available widely. Here, we review prevalence, clinical spectrum, epidemiology and diagnosis of T. gondii in humans and animals in Turkey. This knowledge should be useful to biologists, public health workers, veterinarians and physicians. Although one-third of the human population in Turkey is seropositive, the rate of congenital toxoplasmosis is unknown and no information is available in children 12 years old or younger. One large outbreak of acute toxoplasmosis has been reported in 14-18-year old school children in Turkey. An alarming rate (36%) of T. gondii tissue cysts were reported in tissues of sheep and water buffalo meats destined for human consumption; these reports require verification. Genetically, T. gondii strains from domestic cats and wild birds in Turkey were generally classical type II and III, like those prevalent in Europe. A separate genotype, Type 1 Africa, was isolated from two congenitally infected children and a domestic cat in Turkey.

Infections during pregnancy that may cause congenital abnormalities have been recognized for decades, but their diagnosis is challenging. This was again illustrated with the emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV), highlighting the inherent difficulties in estimating the extent of pre- and postnatal ZIKV complications because of the difficulties in establishing definitive diagnoses. We reviewed the epidemiology, infection kinetics, and diagnostic methods used for Toxoplasma gondii , parvovirus B19, rubella virus, and cytomegalovirus (TORCH) infections and compared the results with current knowledge of ZIKV diagnostic assays to provide a basis for the inclusion of ZIKV in the TORCH complex evaluations. Similarities between TORCH pathogens and ZIKV support inclusion of ZIKV as an emerging TORCH infection. Our review evaluates the diagnostic performance of various TORCH diagnostic assays for maternal screening, fetal screening, and neonatal screening. We show that the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value of TORCH complex pathogens are widely variable, stressing the importance of confirmatory testing and the need for novel techniques for earlier and accurate diagnosis of maternal and congenital infections. In this context it is also important to acknowledge different needs and access to care for different geographic and resource settings., (Copyright © 2019 American Society for Microbiology.)

We report on apparent temporal progression of probable sources of infection and transmission routes for global human toxoplasmosis outbreaks as described in published articles. We searched the Scientific Electronic Library Online, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases for articles on Toxoplasma, toxoplasmosis, and outbreaks. We found that transmission routes for Toxoplasma gondii varied by decade. In the 1960s and 1990s, toxoplasmosis outbreaks mainly occurred through ingestion of cysts in meat and meat derivatives; in the 1980s, through milk contaminated with tachyzoites; in 2000, due to the presence of oocysts in water, sand, and soil; and in 2010, due to oocysts in raw fruits and vegetables. Our study suggests a possible change in the epidemiology of reported toxoplasmosis outbreaks. Because of this change, we suggest that greater attention be paid to the disinfection of vegetables, as well as to the quality of water used for drinking and irrigation.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and vertical transmission rate of Toxoplasma gondii infections among in parturient women in Wuhu City, so as to provide reference for the prevention and control of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in the city., Methods: Parturient women's venous blood samples and neonatal heel blood samples were collected in Wuhu City and prepared into filter-paper blood samples. The prevalence and vertical transmission rate of T. gondii infections were detected using the loop -mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay among the parturient women., Results: There were three positive samples detected in the 475 filter-paper blood samples from the parturient women, with a mean positive rate of 0.63%. The prevalence of T. gondii infection was 0 in pregnant women at ages of < 20 years (0/5) and at an advanced maternal age (0/24), while the prevalence was 0.67% (3/446) in pregnant women at an appropriate maternal age. T. gondii infection was detected in 2 filter-paper blood samples from newborns, with a vertical transmission rate of 66.67%., Conclusions: There is T. gondii infection in the parturient women and a high vertical transmission rate of T. gondii infection is detected in Wuhu City. The awareness of the potential risk factors of toxoplasmosis should be improved among pregnant women to prevent the damages of toxoplasmosis to humans.

Introduction : Infection with Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii ) causes the disease toxoplasmosis in humans and animals. Oral transmission alone may not explain the widespread distribution of this parasite over large species of host animals and geographic areas. Areas covered : Limited studies indicate the potential role of ticks in the distribution of T. gondii . The possibility of transmission of T. gondii has been demonstrated in Dermacentor variabilis, Dermacentor andersoni, Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor reticulatus, Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes amblyomma, Amblyomma cajennense, Ornithodorus moubata and Haemaphysalis longicornis . Tick transmission of T. gondii , spread of ticks and pathogens by migratory birds and presence in the United States (US) of tick vectors of human and animal disease like Haemaphysalis longicornis indigenous to other parts of the world provide a possible mechanism for the widespread distribution of T. gondii , and a potentially expanding disease threat. Expert opinion : The evidence indicates that T. gondii is potentially an unrecognized tick-borne pathogen spreading toxoplasmosis, and that clinicians might consider toxoplasmosis in the differential diagnosis of tickborne diseases.

Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) and Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) are the causative agents of Chagas disease and Toxoplasmosis. T. cruzi and T. gondii present, respectively, low and high congenital transmission rates and induce a distinctive cytokine/chemokine profile in ex vivo infected human placental explants (HPE). Since the innate immune response is regulated, at least partially, by NF-κB signaling pathways, our main objective was to determine the effect of ex vivo infection with both parasites on the activation of canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways and its relation to parasite infection. T. cruzi activates both, the canonical and non-canonical pathways of NF-κB, unlike T. gondii, which has no effect on the canonical pathway and inhibits the non-canonical pathway. The inhibition of both pathways of NF-κB increases the DNA load of T. cruzi and T. gondii in HPE. Therefore, the differential modulation of NF-κB signal transduction pathways by both parasites might explain, at least partially, the low and high congenital transmission rates of T. cruzi and T. gondii., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Toxoplasma gondii variant influences clinical profile in human congenital and ocular toxoplasmosis. Parasite genotyping represents a challenge due to insufficient amount of genetic material of the protozoan in the host samples, and isolates are hard to obtain, especially from pediatric patients. An alternative is serotyping, which is based on the presence of specific antibodies against polymorphic proteins related to virulence; the more widely used are GRA6 and GRA7, but most works report cross reactions among the classical strains (I, II, and III). We designed new peptides of GRA6, GRA7, and SAG1 proteins, with more SNPs among the three clonal strains than those previously designed. This was done by identifying BcR and polymorphic epitopes by means of bioinformatics; then we designed peptides with linkers joining the specific regions and predicted their 3D structure. With the commercial molecules synthesized on the basis of these designs, we tested 86 serum samples from 42 mother/newborn pairs and two congenitally infected newborns, by indirect ELISA. We implemented a strategy to determine the serotype based on scatter plots and a mathematical formula, using ratios among reactivity indexes to peptides. We found low frequency of samples reactive to GRA7 and SAG1, and cross reactions between GRA6 serotypes I and III; we modified these later peptides and largely improved distinction among the three clonal strains. The chronicity of the infection negatively affected the reactivity index against the peptides. Serotyping both members of the mother/child pair improves the test, i.e., among 26% of them only one member was positive. Serotype I was the most frequent (38%), which was congruent with previous genotyping results in animals and humans of the same area. This serotype was significantly more frequent among mothers who transmitted the infection to their offspring than among those who did not (53 vs. 8%, p = 0.04) and related to disease dissemination in congenitally infected children, although non-significantly. In conclusion, serotyping using the improved GRA6 peptide triad is useful to serotype T. gondii in humans and could be implemented for clinical management and epidemiological studies, to provide information on the parasite type in specific areas., (Copyright © 2019 Xicoténcatl-García, Enriquez-Flores and Correa.)

Disseminated toxoplasmosis is infrequent after kidney transplant transmission but life-threatening because of a lack of diagnostic suspicion as well as specific chemoprophylaxis recommendations. Solid organ transplantation has resulted in few cases of disseminated toxoplasmosis presenting with associated hemophagocytic syndrome. Herein, we report, within the context of a donor/receiver mismatch, a case of a toxoplasmosis associated with hemophagocytic syndrome in a kidney transplant recipient. Molecular and serological investigations confirmed Toxoplasma gondii transmission through the kidney graft., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

We aimed to determine the knowledge and practices regarding toxoplasmosis among housewives in the northern Mexican city of Durango. One hundred eighty-five women (mean age: 41.27 ± 12.40 years old) with an occupation of housewife were studied. A self-administered questionnaire was used. This tool included items about the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, its transmission routes, general clinical, diagnostic, and treatment aspects of toxoplasmosis, and practices to avoid infection. A minority (<10%) of women knew about the parasite, the disease, how the transmission occurs, the clinical manifestations, how an infection is diagnosed, the treatment, and how to avoid toxoplasmosis. Some women knew that cats can transmit T. gondii infection (20%), and that the parasite can be found in cat feces (20.5%). Only 7.6% of women knew that infection with T. gondii can be transmitted by consumption of contaminated food or water. Only 1.1% of women knew about the prevalence of T. gondii infection. Some (4.9%) women used to taste raw meat while cooking, and 7.6% used to undercook meat. In addition, 20% of women used to eat raw dried meat, and 13.5% consumed untreated water. Less than 90% of women always washed their hands before cooking, and washed fruits or vegetables. The majority (75.1%) of women never wore gloves when handling raw meat. About one quarter (27.6%) of women always froze meat. And 16.2% of women cleaned cat feces. This is the first study regarding knowledge and practices about toxoplasmosis in housewives. Poor knowledge regarding T. gondii infection, toxoplasmosis, and practices to avoid infection among the housewives studied was found. High risk practices for infection were identified. Strategies to improve toxoplasmosis-related knowledge and practices to avoid T. gondii infection and its sequelae in housewives are highly needed., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Objectives: Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic parasite that causes a clinical manifestation known as toxoplasmosis. We investigated the prevalence and potential risk factors of T. gondii infection among women in Khartoum, Sudan. A sero-parasitological cross-sectional study included 100 women aging between 15 and 50 years old was conducted between January and November 2018. Serum samples were collected and investigated for the presence of anti-T. gondii immunoglobulins., Results: Mean age of the women population included was 26.75 ± 8.25 with a range between 15 and 50 years. Sero-prevalence of T. gondii antibodies was 27% (27/100) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 18.6-36.8%. Among seropositive population 81% (22/27), 15% (4/27) and 4% (1/27) were seropositive for IgG antibodies, IgM antibodies and both antibodies respectively. Age group 21-30 years old had the highest frequency of detected IgG (10/45) and IgM (3/45). Married women had the highest frequency of detected IgG or IgM, 18/79 and 3/79, respectively. Risk factors analysis showed a total of 37/100 participants were having direct contact with cats and 66/100 have a frequent raw meat consumption, neither direct cats contact nor raw meat consumption had a statistically significant association with seropositivity to T. gondii (P value = 0.052 and 0.565, respectively).

Soluble human leukocyte antigen G (sHLA-G) plays a key role in pregnancy through interaction with decidual natural killer (dNK) cell inhibitory receptors at the maternal-fetal interface. To demonstrate the possible role of sHLA-G during the pregnancy with Toxoplasma gondii infection, we compared the concentration of a murine functional homolog of sHLA-G, Qa-2, in T. gondii infected and non-infected pregnant C57BL/6 mice, and that of sHLA-G in BeWo culture supernatant. In addition, the levels of KIR2DL4 expressed on human dNK cells and NKG2A in pregnant mice were evaluated. We showed that T. gondii infection result in significant increase in the level of Qa-2 and NKG2A in pregnant mice. sHLA-G and KIR2DL4 in human samples were also significantly upregulated under the condition of T. gondii infection. The further treatment with sHLA-G antibody could reduce the expression level of KIR2DL4 which was upregulated by T. gondii infection. In summary, sHLA-G could upregulate the expression level of KIR2DL4 which lead to excessive immunological tolerance, and further contributed to T. gondii immunity escaping and affecting fetus via vertical transmission which may lead to adverse outcomes.

Background: Children with β-thalassemia major who regularly receive blood transfusion are at risk of developing transfusion-transmitted infection. Toxoplasmosis is a common and a serious parasitic disease with high prevalence and could be transmitted through blood transfusion from healthy asymptomatic donors. However, screening Toxoplasma gondii before blood donation has not been considered. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of T. gondii antibodies among thalassemia children undergoing blood transfusion., Methods: In a case-control study, serum samples from 211 thalassemia children and 100 control children were investigated for Toxoplasma IgM and IgG using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Positive serum samples for IgG antibodies to T. gondii were further subjected to IgG avidity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay., Results: The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection among thalassemia children was 23.2% and 53.6% for IgM and IgG anti-Toxoplasma antibodies, respectively. Whereas in the control group, the prevalence was 5% and 18% for IgM and IgG anti-Toxoplasma antibodies, respectively. There is a significant statistical difference between thalassemia and control groups regarding the prevalence of toxoplasmosis. From these positive IgG samples, 65.5% have low avidity indicating recent infection while 38.73% have high avidity indicating past infection., Conclusion: Due to the high serologic infection rate of toxoplasmosis among thalassemia pediatric population in this study with no existing effective therapies and no available T. gondii vaccine, appropriate strategies are critical for reducing the risk of that infection. Screening of blood for T. gondii antibodies should be considered before transmission to those children especially in countries with a high prevalence of toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonosis distributed worldwide, caused by the ingestion of contaminated water/food with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii . If a pregnant woman is infected with this parasite, it may be transmitted to the fetus and produce ocular, neurological, or systemic damage with variable severity. The strength and profile of mother's immune response have been suggested as important factors involved in vertical transmission rate and severity of clinical outcome in the congenitally infected fetus. The aim of this work was to evaluate a possible relation between the mother's immune response during pregnancy and congenital transmission to the fetus. We obtained peripheral blood from T. gondii infected pregnant woman and tested it for anti T. gondii (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, and IgA) in serum. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated to analyze the in vitro effect of soluble T. gondii antigens on proliferation and production of cytokines. We found that IgG2-4 and IgA antibodies and lymphocytes proliferation, especially CD4 + , CD8 + , and CD19 + were positive in a higher proportion of cases in transmitter than in non-transmitter women. Furthermore, IgG2-3 and IgA anti- Toxoplasma antibody levels were higher in those mothers who transmitted the infection than in those who did not. Interestingly, a higher proportion of positive cases to IFN-γ and negatives to the immunoregulatory cytokine TGF-β, were related to T. gondii vertical transmission. Our descriptive results are consistent with the paradoxical previous observations in murine models of congenital toxoplasmosis, which suggest that an increased immune response that protects the mothers from a disseminated or severe disease, and should protect the fetus from infection, is positively related to parasite transmission.

Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonosis caused by an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. The disease is distributed worldwide and can affect all warm-blooded vertebrates, including humans. The present review aimed to collect, compile and summarize the data on the prevalence of T. gondii infection in humans and animals in the five North African countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt). Published data from national and international databases were used. Distribution patterns and risk factors for T. gondii infection are discussed, focusing on biotic and abiotic factors. This review is a comprehensive epidemiological analysis of T. gondii infection in North Africa and will therefore be a useful tool for researchers. It can also be used to propose or enhance appropriate national toxoplasmosis control programs., (© Rouatbi et al., published by EDP Sciences, 2019.)

Objective: Toxoplasma gondii is cause of a wide variety of infections in human. The aim of this study was; to evaluate the frequency of sero-positivity of the members in a family with a positive serologic person., Methods: A case-control study with 170 enrolled units which was conducted in Iran in 2017. The units were settled into two group: I: the family members of seropositive individuals and II: the family members of seronegative individuals. The level of IgG and IgM anti-toxoplasma antibodies were evaluated by ELISA qualitative manner in both groups., Results: Frequency of individuals with positive serology was 52.9% and 34.1% in group I and II, respectively (P value = 0.01)., Conclusions: Clusters of toxoplasma infection would be an event in the family members. Therefore evaluation of the family members (especially high risk persons) of a patient may be necessary., (©The Author 2018. Published by Sociedad Española de Quimioterapia. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).)

A 39-year-old HIV-positive black African woman with previously treated cerebral toxoplasmosis experienced a foetal intra-uterine death due to congenital toxoplasmosis. This case demonstrates the complexities of screening for maternal toxoplasmosis in the context of pregnancy and HIV infection-related cell-mediated immunosuppression. Additionally, the case highlights the challenges in providing effective preventative and therapeutic drug options for congenital toxoplasmosis.

Background: The efficacy of prophylaxis to prevent prenatal toxoplasmosis transmission is controversial, without any previous randomized clinical trial. In France, spiramycin is usually prescribed for maternal seroconversions. A more potent pyrimethamine + sulfadiazine regimen is used to treat congenital toxoplasmosis and is offered in some countries as prophylaxis., Objective: We sought to compare the efficacy and tolerance of pyrimethamine + sulfadiazine vs spiramycin to reduce placental transmission., Study Design: This was a randomized, open-label trial in 36 French centers, comparing pyrimethamine (50 mg qd) + sulfadiazine (1 g tid) with folinic acid vs spiramycin (1 g tid) following toxoplasmosis seroconversion., Results: In all, 143 women were randomized from November 2010 through January 2014. An amniocentesis was later performed in 131 cases, with a positive Toxoplasma gondii polymerase chain reaction in 7/67 (10.4%) in the pyrimethamine + sulfadiazine group vs 13/64 (20.3%) in the spiramycin group. Cerebral ultrasound anomalies appeared in 0/73 fetuses in the pyrimethamine + sulfadiazine group, vs 6/70 in the spiramycin group (P = .01). Two of these pregnancies were terminated. Transmission rates, excluding 18 children with undefined status, were 12/65 in the pyrimethamine + sulfadiazine group (18.5%), vs 18/60 in the spiramycin group (30%, P = .147), equivalent to an odds ratio of 0.53 (95% confidence interval, 0.23-1.22) and which after adjustment tended to be stronger (P = .03 for interaction) when treatment started within 3 weeks of seroconversion (95% confidence interval, 0.00-1.63). Two women had severe rashes, both with pyrimethamine + sulfadiazine., Conclusion: There was a trend toward lower transmission with pyrimethamine + sulfadiazine, but it did not reach statistical significance, possibly for lack of statistical power because enrollment was discontinued. There were also no fetal cerebral toxoplasmosis lesions in the pyrimethamine + sulfadiazine group. These promising results encourage further research on chemoprophylaxis to prevent congenital toxoplasmosis., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Congenital toxoplasmosis is caused by the vertical transmission of infection from mother to foetus through the placenta when a pregnant woman is infected with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). Congenital infection can have serious consequences, such as intrauterine abortion, foetal death and severe neurological, ocular or other organ damage in the foetus. In this review, we focus on recent publications investigating vertical transmission of T. gondii infection, cellular immunopathogenesis and protective immunity in primary toxoplasmosis during pregnancy., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

A majority of emerging infectious diseases in humans are zoonoses. Understanding factors that influence the emergence and transmission of zoonoses is pivotal for their prevention and control. Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most widespread zoonotic pathogens known today. Whereas only a few genotypes of T. gondii dominate in the Northern Hemisphere, many genotypes coexist in South America. Furthermore, T. gondii strains from South America are more likely to be virulent than those from the Northern Hemisphere. However, it is not clear what factor(s) shaped modern-day genetic diversity and virulence of T. gondii Here, our analysis suggests that the rise and expansion of farming in the past 11,000 years established the domestic cat/mouse transmission cycle for T. gondii , which has undoubtedly played a significant role in the selection of certain linages of T. gondii Our mathematical simulations showed that within the domestic transmission cycle, intermediately mouse-virulent T. gondii genotypes have an adaptive advantage and eventually become dominant due to a balance between lower host mortality and the ability to superinfect mice previously infected with a less virulent T. gondii strain. Our analysis of the global type II lineage of T. gondii suggests its Old World origin but recent expansion in North America, which is likely the consequence of global human migration and trading. These results have significant implications concerning transmission and evolution of zoonotic pathogens in the rapidly expanding anthropized environment demanded by rapid growth of the human population and intensive international trading at present and in the future., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2018 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.)

To explore PPAR-γ and SOX-2 transcription factors expression in placenta according to maternal anti-Toxoplasma gondii serological profile during pregnancy and pregnancy outcome. The study included 240 placentas, grouped according to IgM and IgG serostatus and then subgrouped according to pregnancy outcome that varied between miscarriages, premature labour, stillbirth and giving birth to CNS anomaly or apparently healthy neonates. Samples were H&E stained and histopathologically scored blindly. PPAR-γ expression was measured by ELISA, while SOX-2-positive nuclei were stained immunohistochemically to be calculated by ImageJ. The mean pathological score was significantly higher in IgM+ve and IgG rising than IgG-ve and persistent low groups. Former groups showed significantly higher PPAR-γ (mean = 258.63, 227.11). However, PPAR-γ was higher in apparently healthy neonate subgroups. SOX-2 was significantly lower in IgM+ve and IgG rising groups (mean = 12.87, 43.13) and associated with obvious fibrosis. SOX-2 lowest count was in CNS anomaly subgroup. PPAR-γ and SOX-2 changes may give clues of how Toxoplasma induces pathogenesis during vertical transmission. Triggering PPAR-γ expression may be a tool to downregulate the inflammatory response and establish a metabolically permissive cellular environment for Toxoplasma persistence. Low SOX-2 is suspected to disturb placental mesenchymal stem cells pluripotency and neuroectoderm development., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Toxoplasmosis, a most common zoonosis, is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. However, there is little epidemiological information on T. gondii infections in humans and livestock animals in Russia. Therefore, in this study, the seroprevalence of T. gondii in goats in Russia was investigated. A total of 216 goats from 32 farms were investigated and 95 of them were seropositive for T. gondii. The difference in seroprevalence between the examined regions was not statistically significant. We next collected serum samples from 99 cats and 181 humans in Kazan city, the state capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, and examined their T. gondii seroprevalences. Thirty-nine of the 99 cat samples and 56 of the 181 human samples showed seropositivity. Logistical regression analysis revealed that the cat breeding history of the human subjects, but not their sex or age is a significant risk factor for T. gondii seropositivity. These findings suggest that the natural environment in Russia may be widely polluted with T. gondii oocysts shed by cats, and ingestion of these oocysts provides a major route for human infection with this parasite., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Approximately one-third of the world's population has Toxoplasma gondii infection, and one of the main routes of transmission is organ transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Toxoplasma infection on liver transplantation patients., Methodology: We searched PubMed, Lilacs, Medline, Science direct, Scielo, Ebsco, Springer, Wiley, Ovid and Google Scholar for reports published up to June 2017, and a systematic review was performed., Results: Twenty cases were analysed before and after liver transplantation. Primary and reactivated infections were investigated. Before transplantation, positive IgG antibodies were the predominant serological markers in donors and recipients: 40 % (D+/R-), 20 % (D+/R+) and 20 % (D-/R+). IgM was present in only 5 % of the donors (D+/R-). In four cases, the serological markers were not specified or were negative (D?/R? or D?/R-). After transplantation, IgM anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were found in 30 % of the recipients, and in 67 % of the seronegative recipients the presence of Toxoplasma DNA or tachyzoites was reported, suggesting a primary infection. Clinical symptoms were meningitis, massive cerebral oedema, encephalitis and seizures. Treatment was administered in 70 % of the patients, and 40 % died after presenting symptoms associated with Toxoplasma infection., Conclusions: Although we review Toxoplasma infection and liver transplantation cases, problems associated with the parasite may be greater than identified. Hence, follow-up studies on Toxoplasma infection in liver transplantation patients are recommended.

The emergence of Zika-virus-associated congenital microcephaly has engendered renewed interest in the pathogenesis of microcephaly induced by infectious agents. Three of the original "TORCH" agents are associated with an appreciable incidence of congenital microcephaly: cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, and Toxoplasma gondii. The pathology of congenital microcephaly is characterized by neurotropic infectious agents that involve the fetal nervous system, leading to brain destruction with calcifications, microcephaly, sensorineural hearing loss, and ophthalmologic abnormalities. The inflammatory reaction induced by these four agents has an important role in pathogenesis. The potential role of "strain differences" in pathogenesis of microcephaly by these four pathogens is examined. Specific epidemiologic factors, such as first and early second trimester maternal infection, and the manifestations of congenital infection in the infant, shed some light on the pathogenesis. Immune aspects of normal pregnancy and their role in congenital infections is examined. In this review, we integrate all these findings to create a unified hypothesis of the pathogenesis of congenital microcephaly induced by these infectious agents.

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease causing severe symptoms in pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. On average, worldwide, around 30% of people are seropositive. The oral transmission route is of great significance and food, particularly meat, is an important transmission vehicle for T. gondii. However, the role of different food matrices is debated., Objectives: The aim of this review was to assess the risk of humans developing acute T. gondii infection via the foodborne route., Study Eligibility Criteria: Case-control studies including acute cases of T. gondii infection were included after literature searches, without time limits, in several databases. All studies estimating the risk of acquiring T. gondii infection after consumption of specific food categories were included., Results: Three risk factors proved to be significantly associated with acute T. gondii infection in humans: consumption of raw/undercooked meat, Odds Ratio (OR) 3.44 (1.29-9.16), consumption of raw/undercooked beef, OR 2.22 (1.57-3.12), and consumption of raw/undercooked sheep meat, OR 3.85 (1.85-8.00). Consumption of raw/undercooked pork, raw eggs, and unpasteurized milk proved to be non-significant risk factors., Limitations: Limitations in the present review and meta-analysis are due to the low number of case-control studies available for analysis and the lack of a search strategy targeting gray literature., Conclusion: Consumption of raw/undercooked beef and sheep meat are important risk factors for T. gondii infection. Their consumption should be avoided in order to prevent toxoplasmosis, particularly by those in at-risk categories, including pregnant women. The review protocol is registered in PROSPERO database (CRD42016043295).

Toxoplasma gondii transmitted from blood donors to receiving patients has become a concern as numerous articles about the epidemiology of T. gondii infection in blood donors from different provinces have been published in China. This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in Chinese blood donors using a meta-analysis. A total of 40 eligible studies, published from 1986 to 2017 and covering 18 provinces and municipalities were included. Among a total of 49,784 Chinese blood donors, the overall IgG seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 6.26% (95% CI: 4.62%-8.13%). The highest prevalence was in the Northeast of China and the lowest in Central China. The infection rate increased slowly over the years, but not significantly. A statistically significant correlation was found between the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and the detection method and educational level (p < 0.01). There was no relationship between age, gender, occupation and blood type and seroprevalence of T. gondii (p > 0.05). The prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii in Chinese blood donors was lower than in other countries, but the risk of transfusion-transmitted toxoplasmosis still exits. More concise methods are still needed to evaluate the possibility of transfusion-transmitted toxoplasmosis from blood donors., (© T. Wang et al., published by EDP Sciences, 2018.)

Background : The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and practices about toxoplasmosis in a sample of clinical laboratory professionals in Mexico. Methods : 192 clinical laboratory professionals were surveyed. They were asked about (1) Toxoplasma gondii ; (2) clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiology of toxoplasmosis; and (3) their practices with respect to toxoplasmosis. Results : The range of animals infected by T. gondii was known by 44.8% of participants. Clinical aspects of toxoplasmosis were known by up to 44.3% of subjects. Correct answers about the interpretation of serological markers of T. gondii infection were provided by up to 32.8% of participants. A minority (32.2%) of participants knew about a high number of false positive results of anti- T. gondii IgM antibody tests. Most participants (90.1%) did not know what the anti- T. gondii IgG avidity test was. Up to 55.7% of participants provided incorrect answers about the interpretation of serology tests for the treatment of pregnant women. Common routes of T. gondii infection were known by <15% of participants. Most (84.4%) participants had not performed tests for detection T. gondii infection. Conclusions : Results indicate incomplete knowledge of T. gondii infection and toxoplasmosis and a limited practice of laboratory tests among the professionals surveyed., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan parasite, is a major public health concern throughout the world. Importantly, toxoplasmosis has several adverse effects, including neurological and ocular diseases. There are currently no data on the prevalence of T. gondii infection in humans or animals in North Sulawesi, although Indonesia is known to have a high seroprevalence of this parasite. In this study, the prevalence of T. gondii was determined in samples of humans and pigs from North Sulawesi using the latex agglutination test. In total, 856 human were sampled and 58.5% of whom were positive for T. gondii. Although the antibody prevalence in male and female children aged 0-9years was <10%, the prevalence in individuals over 10years old was >40% in both sexes, suggesting that the transmission rate of the parasite to humans is extremely high in this area. However, the overall prevalence of T. gondii in pigs was only 2.3%. Our study indicates a high incidence of T. gondii infection in humans. Therefore, a survey of the prevalence of T. gondii among different infection sources is required to determine the major risk factors for infection in North Sulawesi., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the obligate intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, is a common parasitic infection affecting approximately one-third of the world population. T.gondii infections are usually acquired by ingesting raw or insufficiently cooked meat and from unwashed fruits and vegetables contaminated with soil or water with cat feces. Primary infection acquired during pregnancy can cause severe congenital abnormalities in the fetus such as neurologic and ocular malformations, abortion, or stillbirth according to the degree of infection. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and rate of seroconversion of T.gondii IgG antibodies in a selected population of pregnant women in Hatay by using a mathematical model. T.gondii-specific serological screening test results of 11.564 pregnant women who have attended the Private Antakya Mosaic Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital between 01.04.2009 and 31.04.2016 were analysed in the study. The prevalence of T.gondii-specific IgG antibodies in the studied population were found as 48.70% (95% CI, 0.48-0.50). The prevalence of T.gondii-specific IgG antibodies were increased linearly with age in our study population. The relationship between age and prevalence was statistically significant (p< 0.001). The age-specific rate of seroconversion was estimated as 0.8% for T.gondii infection in pregnant women. It was observed that the rate of T.gondii-specific IgG antibodies decreased from 55.12% (95% Cl, 0.52-0.57) detected in 2009 to 42.22% (95% Cl, 0.37-0.46) in 2016. The estimated number of cases carrying the risk of primer T.gondii infection was calculated as 69 in the study population. Our results have suggested that the prevalence of T.gondii-specific antibodies is high among pregnant women in Hatay. Early maternal diagnosis and treatment methods may reduce the risk of transplacental transmission during pregnancy. The on time diagnosis can only be achieved with prenatal serological screening. The knowledge of the incidence and prevalence of toxoplasma infection in pregnant women plays a crucial role in estimating the burden of the disease and evaluating the effectiveness of the public health protection policies including screening programmes. Expanding of training activities, drawing attention to hygiene, taking nutritional precautions and increasing awareness of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women are important to prevent congenital toxoplasmosis or minimize the disease.

We report the case of a 61 year-old male who underwent heart transplantation eight months before developing a systemic condition with central nervous system, lung, kidney, colonic, cutaneous, and hematologic involvement, found to be secondary to a systemic toxoplasmosis despite co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in a previous-to-transplant seronegative patient receiving a heart from a seropositive donor. A review of prophylactic options in our environment is discussed.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite with high seroprevalence in humans. Repeated lytic cycles of invasion, replication, and egress drive both the propagation and the virulence of this parasite. Key steps in this cycle, including invasion and egress, depend on tightly regulated calcium fluxes and, although many of the calcium-dependent effectors have been identified, the factors that detect and regulate the calcium fluxes are mostly unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we used a forward genetic approach to isolate mutants resistant to extracellular exposure to the calcium ionophore A23187. Through whole genome sequencing and complementation, we have determined that a nonsense mutation in a previously uncharacterised protein is responsible for the ionophore resistance of one of the mutants. The complete loss of this protein recapitulates the resistance phenotype and importantly shows defects in calcium regulation and in the timing of egress. The affected protein, GRA41, localises to the dense granules and is secreted into the parasitophorous vacuole where it associates with the tubulovesicular network. Our findings support a connection between the tubulovesicular network and ion homeostasis within the parasite, and thus a novel role for the vacuole of this important pathogen., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii and the probability of this infection occurring in the first months of life is usually low because its transmission is related to eating habits. A 6-month-old nursing infant was diagnosed with acute toxoplasmosis, which was identified through anti- T. gondii IgA, IgM and low-avidity IgG serologic assays, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and mouse bioassay test although its mother was seronegative. This serological divergence between mother and child led us to interview the mother regarding epidemiological factors. During this interview, she reported that she had given her 2-month-old baby a piece of undercooked beef to suck on. After some time, the baby presented fever and cervical lymphadenitis. This report emphasizes the importance of serological surveys of toxoplasmosis in nursing infants presenting with fever and lymphadenitis, in view of the possible acquisition of toxoplasmosis in the first months of life.