Toxoplasma and Africa: One Parasite, Two Opposite Population Structures

Galal, Lokman; Ajzenberg, Daniel; Hamidović, Azra; Durieux, Marie‐Fleur; Dardé, Marie‐Laure; Mercier, Aurélien

doi:10.1016/j.pt.2017.10.010

Cited by 59 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…Indeed, clinical observations have shown that an immune response against a chronic infection does not prevent reinfection of immunocompetent individuals with a strain different that the one responsible for the primary infection . This hypothesis cannot be ruled out in our study since different genotypes have been identified in Central Africa . The immunosenescence or a T‐cell exhaustion during a chronic infection could facilitate the process of re‐infection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Mice infected with an attenuated type I strain that does not persist in mouse brain were not protected against amyloid beta deposition. Transposing data from animal models to human populations is particularly delicate as not all dementia subtypes share the same pathophysiological process and knowledge of the strains circulating in different countries is still incomplete . We, however, can reasonably think that our participants were infected by African strains, which share some genetic similarities with type I strains.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Prevalence of toxoplasmosis and its association with dementia in older adults in Central Africa: a result from the EPIDEMCA programme

Bouscaren

Pilleron

M’Belesso

et al. 2018

Tropical Med Int Health

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Objective We aimed at estimating the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in older adults living in Central Africa and investigating its association with dementia using data from the Epidemiology of Dementia in Central Africa (EPIDEMCA) programme. Methods A cross‐sectional multicentre population‐based study was carried out among participants aged 73 (±7) years on average, living in rural and urban areas of the Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo between November 2011 and December 2012. Blood samples were collected from each consenting participant. The detection of anti‐T. gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies was performed in 2014 in France using a commercially available ELISA kit. Participants were interviewed using a standardised questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics. DSM‐IV criteria were required for a diagnosis of dementia. Multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to assess the association between toxoplasmosis infection and dementia. Results Among 1662 participants, the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 63.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 60.7–65.3) overall, 66.6% (95%CI: 63.4–69.8) in Central African Republic and 59.4% (95%CI: 56.1–62.7) in the Republic of Congo. In multivariate analyses, toxoplasmosis status was significantly associated with increasing age (P = 0.006), Republic of Congo (P = 0.002), urban area (P = 0.001) and previous occupation (P = 0.002). No associations between dementia and toxoplasmosis status or anti‐T. gondii IgG titres were found. Conclusion Toxoplasma gondii infection was not associated with dementia among older adults in Central Africa. Our findings are consistent with previous studies and add to the knowledge on the relationship between T. gondii infection and neurological disorders.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Prevalence of toxoplasmosis and its association with dementia in older adults in Central Africa: a result from the EPIDEMCA programme

Bouscaren

Pilleron

M’Belesso

et al. 2018

Tropical Med Int Health

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“…Thus, in the Mediterranean region sympatric domestic ungulates may serve as reservoir hosts for T. gondii [52]. It is currently unknown whether the three main clonal lineages (type I, II or III) occurring in North Africa and Europe also predominate in Namibian wildlife [59,60] or whether other T. gondii genotypes such as African 1, 2, 3 or other socalled atypical genotypes prevail in southern African wildlife [53,61]. Further molecular work is needed to understand the sylvatic cycle and the clear role of wildlife in the epidemiology of T. gondii in southern Africa.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species-specific differences in Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Besnoitia besnoiti seroprevalence in Namibian wildlife

et al. 2020

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Background: Knowledge about parasitic infections is crucial information for animal health, particularly of free-ranging species that might come into contact with livestock and humans. Methods:We investigated the seroprevalence of three tissue-cyst-forming apicomplexan parasites (Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Besnoitia besnoiti) in 506 individuals of 12 wildlife species in Namibia using in-house enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (indirect ELISAs applying purified antigens) for screening and immunoblots as confirmatory tests. We included six species of the suborder Feliformia, four species of the suborder Caniformia and two species of the suborder Ruminantia. For the two species for which we had most samples and life-history information, i.e. cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus, n = 250) and leopards (Panthera pardus, n = 58), we investigated T. gondii seroprevalence in relation to age class, sex, sociality (solitary, mother-offspring group, independent sibling group, coalition group) and site (natural habitat vs farmland).Results: All but one carnivore species (bat-eared fox Otocyon megalotis, n = 4) were seropositive to T. gondii, with a seroprevalence ranging from 52.4% (131/250) in cheetahs to 93.2% (55/59) in African lions (Panthera leo). We also detected antibodies to T. gondii in 10.0% (2/20) of blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus). Adult cheetahs and leopards were more likely to be seropositive to T. gondii than subadult conspecifics, whereas seroprevalence did not vary with sex, sociality and site. Furthermore, we measured antibodies to N. caninum in 15.4% (2/13) of brown hyenas (Hyaena brunnea) and 2.6% (1/39) of black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas). Antibodies to B. besnoiti were detected in 3.4% (2/59) of African lions and 20.0% (4/20) of blue wildebeest. Conclusions:Our results demonstrate that Namibian wildlife species were exposed to apicomplexan parasites at different prevalences, depending on parasite and host species. In addition to serological work, molecular work is also needed to better understand the sylvatic cycle and the clear role of wildlife in the epidemiology of these parasites in southern Africa.

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“…Determination of T. gondii seroprevalence in goats was conducted only in the Northern Morocco and Middle Atlas regions, revealing a low infection rate (8.5%) [29]. One study was performed to determine the genotypes of T. gondii occurring in Morocco using 15 microsatellite markers, and referred to a human strain of type III genotype [59].…”

Section: Toxoplasma Gondii Infection In Moroccomentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxoplasma gondii infection and toxoplasmosis in North Africa: a review

Rouatbi¹,

Amairia²,

Amdouni³

et al. 2019

Parasite

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Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonosis caused by an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. The disease is distributed worldwide and can affect all warm-blooded vertebrates, including humans. The present review aimed to collect, compile and summarize the data on the prevalence of T. gondii infection in humans and animals in the five North African countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt). Published data from national and international databases were used. Distribution patterns and risk factors for T. gondii infection are discussed, focusing on biotic and abiotic factors. This review is a comprehensive epidemiological analysis of T. gondii infection in North Africa and will therefore be a useful tool for researchers. It can also be used to propose or enhance appropriate national toxoplasmosis control programs.

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Toxoplasma and Africa: One Parasite, Two Opposite Population Structures

Cited by 59 publications

References 81 publications

Prevalence of toxoplasmosis and its association with dementia in older adults in Central Africa: a result from the EPIDEMCA programme

Prevalence of toxoplasmosis and its association with dementia in older adults in Central Africa: a result from the EPIDEMCA programme

Species-specific differences in Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Besnoitia besnoiti seroprevalence in Namibian wildlife

Toxoplasma gondii infection and toxoplasmosis in North Africa: a review

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