Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasmosis among People Having Close Contact with Animals

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma infection and its risk association among people having close contact with animals. A total of 312 blood samples were collected from veterinary personnel (veterinarian, technicians, and students) and pet owners from veterinary clinics and hospitals in the area of Klang Valley, Malaysia. About 4 cc of blood samples drawn from agreed participants were processed for measurement of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies as well as avidity test of Toxoplasma IgG by ELISA I, II, and III kits. Meanwhile, the demographic profiles and possible risk factors of these participants were also recorded in the standardized data collection sheets. Overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was observed in 62 (19.9%) participants being 7 (18.4%) in veterinarians, 15 (33.3%) in veterinary technicians, 29 (14.9%) in veterinary students, and 11 (31.4%) in pet owners. Of 19.9% Toxoplasma seropositive samples, 18.3% was positive for IgG antibody, 1.0% for IgM antibody, and 0.6% for both IgG and IgM antibodies. Of three different IgG avidity ELISA kits, ELISA III showed high avidity in all five seropositive samples (IgM and IgG/IgM antibodies) indicating chronic Toxoplasma infection which is consistent with no evidence of clinical toxoplasmosis diagnosed during the time of this study. Univariate analysis showed that age group, gender, study population, gardening, task performance, and working duration were significantly associated with Toxoplasma seropositivity. Further analysis by multivariate analysis using logistic regression showed that age group of ≥30 years old (OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.18–0.63, p = 0.001) and working or study duration of >10 years having close contact with animals (OR = 5.07, 95% CI = 1.80–14.24, p = 0.002) were identified as significant risks for Toxoplasma infection. Based on the results obtained, a comprehensive Toxoplasma screening and health surveillance program on toxoplasmosis should be implemented among people having close contact with animals in general and confirmed Toxoplasma seronegative individuals in particular to prevent seroconversion.

A Review on the Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Humans and Animals Reported in Malaysia from 2008–2018

“…After they were screened for toxoplasmosis, the result showed that 44.2% [ 37 ] had T. gondii antibodies. These findings were still within the range reported from healthy individuals of the indigenous community/Orang Asli: 37.0% [ 39 ] and people having close contact with animals such as veterinary technicians: 33.3% [ 46 ]. In comparison, these groups of human patients who presented with disorders may likely be prone to the T. gondii infection, and therefore, chances of opportunistic infection exhibited by the parasite could have played a significant role in the development of pulmonary toxoplasmosis or other clinical conditions [ 22 ].…”

Molecular Detection and Genetic Diversity of Toxoplasma gondii Oocysts in Cat Faeces from Klang Valley, Malaysia, Using B1 and REP Genes in 2018

“…To the author’s knowledge, this is the first report of T. gondii oocysts detected directly from cat faeces in Malaysia using both copro-microscopy and copro-PCR techniques. The previous studies conducted in Malaysia on T. gondii in the last decade (2008 to 2018) were mainly serological tests for detection of the presence of antibodies in the blood of humans or animals [ 4 , 5 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ]. Others searched for new innovative diagnostic approaches and vaccine development for T. gondii [ 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ], and characterization of T. gondii genotype studies on free-range ducks and wild boars [ 49 , 50 ].…”

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Toxoplasma gondii in Ruminant Meats from Wet Markets in Klang Valley and Abattoirs in Selangor, Malaysia

“…In Malaysia, T. gondii seroprevalence among healthy Malaysians ranged from 14% to 30% [ 10 , 11 ], indicating that the disease is highly prevalent. Furthermore, alarming results have indicated that the seroprevalence of T. gondii among pregnant women in South East Asia was highest in Malaysia (42.5%) [ 12 ] as compared to the other neighboring countries such as Thailand (28.3%0 [ 13 ] and the Philippines (23.8%) [ 14 ].…”