Molecular and serological diagnosis of toxoplasmosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is an infection of vast worldwide distribution whose etiologic agent is Toxoplasma gondii. This disease can cause problems ranging from mild symptoms to serious conditions, such as encephalitis, miscarriage and blindness. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to perform a diagnosis with reproducible techniques in order to obtain a good prognosis. The aim of this review was to analyze the efficiency of toxoplasmosis diagnostic techniques based on sensitivity and specificity results. Five research platforms in English language were used (Eric, Elsevier, Google Scholar, PubMed and SciELO), which contained data on the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. The search and selection were performed for studies published prior to June 2021. The search resulted in the inclusion of 13 articles published from 2005 to 2020. The data revealed the use of different samples in the standardization of techniques such as serum, total blood, colostrum and amniotic fluid. The flow cytometry, lateral flow immunoassay and qPCR techniques showed 100% sensitivity, whereas the ELISA, western blotting, qPCR and RE-LAMP techniques achieved 100% specificity. Significantly, the qPCR and LAMP techniques were more accurate when the likelihood ratio was assessed. The meta-analysis identified that ISAGA and western blotting have low sensitivity values and LIASON, ELFA and ELISA, using a silica bioconjugate, also have low specificity values. It was noted that a wide range of methods have high values of sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, the choice of the method will be based on the conditions and its financial viability.

Serosurvey of Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. co-infection in pregnant women in low-income areas of Brazil

“…Given that serological tests may result in the overestimation of prevalence via false positive results, a second test should be recommended for further confirmation in epidemiological investigations of toxoplasmosis. Accordingly, a meta-analysis revealed that a combination of tests may improve the sensitivity and provide improved accuracy ( 74 ). Finally, as knowledge of risk factors for toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis may be helpful during early pregnancy ( 44 ), such educational and preventive activities should be taken into consideration as public health policies.…”

Toxoplasmosis Behind Bars: One Health Approach on Serosurvey Dynamics and Associated Risk Factors for Women Inmates, Correctional Officers, and In-Prison Feral Cats

“…In addition, the combined use of another serological method (e.g., ELISA) with IFAT could help to better understand the seroconversion dynamics observed herein. According to a meta-analysis, the use of enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay, consisting of an immunoenzymatic method with the final fluorescence detection, has provided a 92% sensitivity and 80% specificity for the IgG marker, highly improving the sensitivity accuracy [46].…”

Optimization of deoxyribonucleic acid extraction and polymerase chain reaction methods for gene detection of Toxoplasma gondii in goat milk

“…Additionally, It may need to be liquefied, diluted with PCR-quality water, and mixed via a pipette or rotator. (Souza et al 2023).…”