Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among indian people living in Iauareté, São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract

SUMMARYThe goal of this survey was to estimate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Iauareté, a multiethnic Indian community in the upper Rio Negro basin. We carried out a cross-sectional survey (n = 260), in order to obtain serum samples and demographic data. The sample was randomly selected, by family conglomerate analysis. Serodiagnosis was performed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and indirect immunofluorescence. Prevalence of reactivity was 73.5% (191/260), being higher in the older-age groups, reaching 95.7% (44/46) in the group aged 50 years or more. The majority of seropositive subjects had titers equal to or less than 1:64. Seroprevalence was greater in Indians belonging to the Hupda ethnic group (p = 0.03). According to the present survey, Indian people living in Iauareté have a high prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii. Demographic concentration and urbanization within low sanitation and poor hygiene backgrounds, as well as unfiltered water consumption, may be related to the high frequency of T. gondii seroprevalence observed in the studied area.

Surto de toxoplasmose humana no Distrito de Monte Dourado, Município de Almeirim, Pará, Brasil

“…Similar to what was observed in other areas, in the Brazilian Amazon, epidemiology studies have demonstrated that toxoplasmosis, in its other forms, is a very frequent infection with seroprevalence above 4,10,5,9 70%…”

Frequency of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella nigritus) from an ecological station in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

“…In some urban, rural and wild areas, some of them indigenous, nonhuman primates are hunted and used as food, one more example of the risk to human infection and importance as sentinels. So, the ingestion of infective forms through inadequately cooked game meat, as well as handling carcasses of wild game should be considered a potential source of infection (Bóia et al 2008). Many wild animals are considered sentinels for toxoplasmosis, i.e., armadillos, coatis, marsupials and others (Acha & Szyfres 2003).…”

Seroprevalence and Sources of Toxoplasmosis among Orang Asli (Indigenous) Communities in Peninsular Malaysia

“…In support of the present study, similar findings were found among indigenous women in Taiwan 1 and in a multiethnic Indian community in Brazil. 18 In addition, from our personal communication with the villagers, drinking of unboiled (especially mountain water) or improperly boiled water is a common practice in this community.…”

“…15 However, other studies among Taiwan indigenous people have reported a lower seroprevalence of 19.4% to 21.8% in Atayal, 16 26.7% in Paiwan, 17 and 9.1% in Akka 17 subgroups. In contrast, seroprevalence rates among indigenous people in Brazil 18 and Venezuela [19][20][21][22][23] have been relatively high: 73.5% and up to 88.0%, respectively. This global status on T. gondii infection indicates that, although these minority people stay in different geographical locations, they still experience similar poor sanitary living conditions.…”