Socioeconomic vulnerability associated to Toxoplasma gondii exposure in southern Brazil

Mareze, Marcelle; Benitez, Aline do Nascimento; Brandão, Ana Pérola Drulla; Ferreira, Fernanda Pinto; Miura, Ana Carolina; Martins, Felippe Danyel Cardoso; Caldart, Eloiza Teles; Biondo, Alexander Welker; Freire, Roberta Lemos; Mitsuka‐Breganó, Regina; Navarro, Italmar Teodorico

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0212375

Cited by 59 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Although the present study has shown no association between T. gondii infection and pet ownership, including stray cat owners, corroborating with previous studies in rural and other vulnerable populations of southern Brazil [27,31], only 6/120 (0.5%) homeless personsowned a total of 11 cats. Outdoor lifestyle of stray cats may include hunting of birds and rodents, leading to raw meat dietary habits and increased risk of T. gondii ingestion [47].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…In São Paulo, similar results were found, with 110/339 (32.4%) seropositive children from a low-socioeconomic community [26]. Not surprisingly, a previous study has shown an association between high seropositivity for T. gondii and socioeconomic vulnerability in southern Brazil, with 526/715 (73.57%) seropositive individuals, particularly in low-income families [27].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

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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: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

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

Felipetto

Teider-Junior

Silva

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…In São Paulo, similar results were found, with 110/339 (32.4%) seropositive children from a lowsocioeconomic community [55]. Not surprisingly, a previous study has shown an association between high seropositivity for T. gondii and socioeconomic vulnerability in southern Brazil, with 526/715 (73.57%) seropositive individuals, particularly in low-income families [56].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

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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“…It is estimated that at least one third of the general population is infected with T. gondii worldwide 7 . The risk of being infected with T. gondii is associated with a low socio-economic status 8 , the close contact with cats, and with eating raw or undercooked pork and lamb meat of infected hosts 7 . The clinical presentation of T. gondii infection is generally asymptomatic in immunocompetent humans, however in immunocompromised hosts it may give rise to more severe clinical manifestations, such as encephalitis 7 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxoplasma gondii and multiple sclerosis: a population-based case–control study

Cicero

Giuliano

Todaro

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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According to the hygiene hypothesis, parasites could have a protective role in the development of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Our aim was to assess the association between presence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and MS. MS patients were randomly selected from a population-based incident cohort of MS patients in the city of Catania. Age and sex-matched controls were randomly selected from the general population. Clinical and sociodemographic variables were recorded with a structured questionnaire and a blood sample was taken for serological analysis. Specific T. gondii IgG have been detected with a commercial kit. Adjusted Odds Ratios (ORs) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression. 129 MS subjects (66.7% women with a mean age 44.7 ± 11.0 years) and 287 controls (67.3% women with a mean age 48.1 ± 15.6 years) have been enrolled in the study. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were found in 38 cases (29.5%) and 130 controls (45.4%) giving an adjusted OR of 0.56 (95%CI 0.34–0.93). History of mononucleosis and high educational level were significantly associated with MS (adjOR 2.22 and 1.70 respectively) while an inverse association was found between high educational level and T. gondii seropositivity (adjOR 0.42). Our results further support the protective role of parasitic infections in MS.

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Socioeconomic vulnerability associated to Toxoplasma gondii exposure in southern Brazil

Cited by 59 publications

References 45 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

Toxoplasma gondii and multiple sclerosis: a population-based case–control study

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