Exposure to Toxoplasma gondii in the Roma and Non-Roma Inhabitants of Slovakia: A Cross-Sectional Seroprevalence Study

Abstract

The lifestyle, health and social status of the Roma are generally below the standards characteristic for the non-Roma population. This study aimed to find out the seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in the population of Roma living in segregated settlements and to compare it with the prevalence of antibodies in the non-Roma population from the catchment area of eastern Slovakia. The seroprevalence of antibodies to T. gondii was significantly higher in the Roma group (45.0%) than in non-Roma inhabitants (24.1%). A statistically significant difference was also recorded between the two non-Roma groups in the study, 30.4% of those from the catchment area and 19.7% from the non-catchment area were seropositive. Univariate logistic regression confirmed poverty and higher age to be significant risk factors influencing the seropositivity to T. gondii. Of the clinical symptoms analyzed in the study, only muscle and back pain were associated with seropositivity to T. gondii. The close contact of Roma with an environment contaminated by different infectious agents and the insufficient hygiene, lower level of education, poverty, lack of water and household equipment and high number of domestic animals increase the risk of infectious diseases in the Roma settlements and subsequently the spread of communicable diseases at the national or even international level.

Roma Health: An Overview of Communicable Diseases in Eastern and Central Europe

“…Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in the HepaMeta population in eastern Slovakia, determined by seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies, was 45.0 per cent among Roma ( n = 420) compared to 24.1 per cent among non-Roma ( n = 386). Prevalence among non-Roma living in the vicinity of the Roma settlements ( n = 158) was 30.4 per cent compared to 19.7 per cent among non-Roma outside this area ( n = 228) [ 30 ]. In a group of Roma children from across Slovakia ( n = 67), seroprevalence was 20.9 per cent vs. 7.1 per cent among non-Roma children ( n = 42) [ 33 ].…”

“…Non-Roma residents of a predominantly Roma neighbourhood of Budapest had higher HBV rates than their Roma neighbours, while neither of the groups had any cases of HIV [ 18 ]. A HepaMeta subpopulation in Slovakia showed higher rates of T. gondii among non-Roma living in close proximity to Roma settlements [ 30 ].…”

“…Notwithstanding the instances mentioned above, Roma have a higher occurrence of communicable diseases than non-Roma. The most common reasons hypothesised by authors for the higher rates of disease are lack of water, poor sanitation and hygiene, crowded living spaces, high-risk sexual behaviours, and exposure to animals and waste [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ].…”

Aspects of Illness and Death among Roma—Have They Changed after More than Two Hundred Years?

“…Our intention was to compare illnesses and the process of dying among Roma as described by Augustini in 1775–1776 and as they occur presently. Current studies are mostly oriented towards the characterization of Roma health, behavior and determinants and their comparison with non-Roma [13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26]. The comparison of the states of these topics over time is missing.…”

“…Distinct health beliefs and practices among Roma related to illnesses and death have attracted attention from various fields of research [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12]. The current research interest mostly focuses on topics such as the description of Roma health [13], Roma health behaviour [14,15], understanding Roma health [16] and its determinants [17] from the management of most common illnesses among the Roma population [18] and health-mediation programs [19] to comparisons with the non-Roma population regarding specific chronic illnesses [20,21,22,23,24,25,26]. Seemingly, some beliefs and practices are more stable than others, and some are more prone to change over time.…”