Preliminary report of body lice infesting homeless people in Brazil

Gravinatti, Mara Lúcia; Faccini-Martínez, Álvaro A.; Ruys, Sandro Ricardo; Timenetsky, Jorge; Biondo, Alexander Welker

doi:10.1590/s1678-9946201860009

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…Body lice (Pediculus humanus humanus) has been recently considered as a reemerging problem among homeless populations in France, Italy, USA, Colombia, and Brazil [23,[50][51][52][53]. Even though body lice presence suggests social vulnerability and 17/120 (14.2%) of the homeless herein were infested with lice, no statistically risk of T. gondii exposure was found.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, the packed cell volume (PCV) by capillary tube centrifugation and total plasma protein (TPP) by refractometry were performed on the day of sampling and immediately given to the shelter administration. Due to the shelter demand, homeless persons were also examined for body lice (Pediculus humanus humanus) bites and presence, as previously described at the same shelter [23]. The University made a clothing donation drive during the study and researchers offered clean clothes to all liceinfested homeless persons.…”

Section: Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Serosurvey of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in homeless persons of São Paulo city, southeastern Brazil

Felipetto

Teider-Junior

Silva

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii has been extensively studied in a variety of vulnerable populations. However, no study has focused on homeless populations. Accordingly, the present study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies and the risk factors associated in homeless persons from homeless shelter of São Paulo city, southeastern Brazil. In addition, anti-HIV antibodies and associated risk of T. gondii and HIV coinfection have been evaluated.Methods: Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected by indirect fluorescent antibody test. In addition, anti-HIV levels were testedby chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay, with positive samples confirmed by rapid immunoblot assay.Results: Overall, IgG anti-T. gondii seropositivity was found in 43/120 (35.8%) homeless persons, with endpoint titers varying from 16 to 1,024. The only two pregnant womentested were negative for IgM by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay, with normal parturition and clinically healthy newborns in both cases. There were no statistical differences in the risk factors for anti-T. gondii serology (p>0.05). Anti-HIV seropositivity was found in 2/120 (1.7%) homeless persons, confirmed as HIV-1. One HIV seropositive individual was also sero-reactive to IgG anti-T.gondii, and both were negative to IgM anti-T. gondii.Conclusions: This is the first study that reports the serosurvey of T. gondii in homeless persons worldwide. Despite the limited sample size available in the present study, our findings have shown that the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in homeless persons herein was lower than the general population, probably due to homeless diet habit of eating mainly processed food intake. No statistical differences were found regarding risk factors for anti-T. gondii exposure in homeless persons.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serosurvey of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in homeless persons of São Paulo city, southeastern Brazil

Felipetto

Teider-Junior

Silva

et al. 2020

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Body lice (Pediculus humanus humanus) has been recently considered as a reemerging problem among homeless populations in France, Italy, USA, Colombia, and Brazil [48,[86][87][88][89]. Even though body lice presence suggests social vulnerability and 17/120 (14.2%) of the homeless herein were infested with lice, no statistically risk of T. gondii exposure was found.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serosurvey of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-HIV antibodies in homeless persons of southeastern Brazil

Lg¹,

Pi²,

FFVd³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Homeless persons have been described as one of the most vulnerable populations worldwide, with higher morbidity and mortality of diseases associated with HIV occurrence. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and HIV has been extensively studied in other vulnerable populations, however, no study to date have focused on their concomitant seroprevalence in homeless persons. Accordingly, the present study aimed to assess the concomitant seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii and anti-HIV antibodies and associated risk factors in homeless persons in a daytime homeless shelter of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Methods: Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected by indirect fluorescent antibody test and anti-HIV levels by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay, with positive samples confirmed by rapid immunoblot assay. Results: Overall, IgG anti-T. gondii seropositivity was found in 43/120 (35.8%) homeless persons, with endpoint titers varying from 16 to 1,024. The only two pregnant women tested were negative for IgM by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay, with normal parturition and clinically healthy newborns in both cases. There were no statistical differences in the risk factors for anti-T. gondii serology (p>0.05). Anti- HIV seropositivity was found in 2/120 (1.7%) homeless persons, confirmed as HIV-1. One HIV seropositive individual was also sero-reactive to IgG anti-T. gondii, and both were negative to IgM anti-T. gondii. One HIV positive person was also diagnosed with syphilis, tuberculosis and body lice presence, while the other never returned for assistance. No evaluation of anti- HIV risk factors has been made due to the low seropositive rate. Conclusions: The anti-T. gondii prevalence herein was lower than other Brazilian populations, likely related to predominant intake of processed food such as ready-to-eat and fast-food meals, and thus, low ingestion of fresh salad and raw meat. On the other hand, the anti- HIV seropositivity was higher than the average of the general Brazilian population, with 0.4%. Despite the low prevalence of anti-T. gondii in homeless persons, clinical manifestations may be aggravated in HIV positive individuals. To the author's knowledge, this is the first study of anti-T. gondii serosurvey in homeless persons concomitantly assessed with anti-HIV seropositivity.

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“…In addition, the packed cell volume (PCV) by capillary tube centrifugation and total plasma protein (TPP) by refractometry were performed on the day of sampling and immediately given to the shelter administration. Due to the shelter demand, homeless persons were also examined for body lice (Pediculus humanus humanus) bites and presence, as previously described at the same shelter (23). The University made a clothing donation drive during the study and researchers offered clean clothes to all lice-infested homeless persons.…”

Section: Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serosurvey of Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Homeless Persons of São Paulo City, Southeastern Brazil

Felipetto

Teider-Junior

Silva

et al. 2020

Front. Public Health

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii has been extensively studied in a variety of different human populations. However, no study has focused on homeless populations. Accordingly, the present study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies and the risk factors associated in homeless persons from homeless shelter of São Paulo city, southeastern Brazil. In addition, anti-HIV antibodies and associated risk of T. gondii and HIV coinfection have been evaluated. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected by indirect fluorescent antibody test. In addition, anti-HIV levels were tested by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay, with positive samples confirmed by rapid immunoblot assay. Overall, IgG anti-T. gondii seropositivity was found in 43/120 (35.8%) homeless persons, with endpoint titers varying from 16 to 1,024. The only two pregnant women tested were negative for IgM by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay, with normal parturition and clinically healthy newborns in both cases. There were no statistical differences in the risk factors for anti-T. gondii serology (p > 0.05). Anti-HIV seropositivity was found in 2/120 (1.7%) homeless persons, confirmed as HIV-1. One HIV seropositive individual was also sero-reactive to IgG anti-T. gondii, and both were negative to IgM anti-T. gondii. This is the first study that reports the serosurvey of T. gondii in homeless persons worldwide. Despite the limited sample size available in the present study, our findings have shown that the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in homeless persons herein was lower than the general population, probably due to homeless diet habit of eating mainly processed food intake. No statistical differences were found regarding risk factors for anti-T. gondii exposure in homeless persons. Future studies should be conducted to fully establish risk factors for anti-T. gondii exposure in homeless persons.

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Preliminary report of body lice infesting homeless people in Brazil

Cited by 7 publications

References 6 publications

Serosurvey of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in homeless persons of São Paulo city, southeastern Brazil

Serosurvey of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in homeless persons of São Paulo city, southeastern Brazil

Serosurvey of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-HIV antibodies in homeless persons of southeastern Brazil

Serosurvey of Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Homeless Persons of São Paulo City, Southeastern Brazil

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