<i>Bartonella quintana</i>and Typhus Group Rickettsiae Exposure among Homeless Persons, Bogotá, Colombia

Faccini-Martínez, Álvaro A.; Márquez, Andrea; Bravo-Estupiñan, Diana M; Calixto, Omar-Javier; López-Castillo, Christian Adrián; Botero-García, Carlos A.; Hidalgo, Marylin; Cuervo, Claudia

doi:10.3201/eid2311.170341

Cited by 23 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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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%

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%

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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“…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%

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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“…There is a growing dependence on heating, ventilation, and cooling systems, as well as increased complexity of indoor plumbing systems in large buildings, which have a labyrinth of water lines and features ranging from hundreds of showerheads in rooms along lengthy corridors to spas and indoor decorative fountains. Potential new sources, such as street cleaning machines reported by Valero Munoz et al in this issue ( 11 ), continue to be identified. Inadequate maintenance of public water supplies might result in increased risk for contamination of building water systems and other water devices or equipment.…”

mentioning

confidence: 86%

Prevention of Legionnaires’ Disease in the 21st Century by Advancing Science and Public Health Practice

Berkelman¹,

Pruden²

2017

Emerg. Infect. Dis.

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Bartonella quintanaand Typhus Group Rickettsiae Exposure among Homeless Persons, Bogotá, Colombia

Cited by 23 publications

References 15 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

Prevention of Legionnaires’ Disease in the 21st Century by Advancing Science and Public Health Practice

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