Toxoplasmosis and Toxocariasis: An Assessment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Comorbidity and Health-Care Costs in Canada

Abstract

Abstract. Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. are zoonotic parasites with potentially severe long-term consequences for those infected. We estimated incidence and investigated distribution, risk factors, and costs associated with these parasites by examining hospital discharge abstracts submitted to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011). Annual incidence of serious toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis was 0.257 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.254-0.260) and 0.010 (95% CI: 0.007-0.014) cases per 100,000 persons, respectively. Median annual health-care costs per serious case of congenital, adult-acquired, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated toxoplasmosis were $1,971, $763, and $5,744, respectively, with an overall cost of $1,686,860 annually (2015 Canadian dollars). However, the total economic burden of toxoplasmosis is likely much higher than these direct health-care cost estimates. HIV was reported as a comorbidity in 40% of toxoplasmosis cases and accounted for over half of direct health-care costs associated with clinical toxoplasmosis. A One Health approach, integrating physician and veterinary input, is recommended for increasing public awareness and decreasing the economic burden of these preventable zoonoses.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma Gondii Igg and Igm and Associated Risk Factors Among Hiv Positive and Hiv Negative Patients in the Vhembe District, South Africa

“…Opportunistic infections, with reference to toxoplasmosis are common cause of serious health problems in immune-compromised patients, particularly those with HIV and AIDS (Schurer et al, 2016). In the present study, out of 142 (100 positive and 42 negative) subjects tested, 31.7% were sero-positive for Toxo-IgG antibodies and of the 144 samples tested, 4.9% were sero-positive for Toxo-IgM antibodies.…”

Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Cerebral Toxoplasmosis

“…During 1998-2010, an annual average of 20,258 encephalitis-associated hospitalizations (attributed to T. gondii and other infectious and non-infectious causes) were reported in the USA (29). A 9-year Canadian study (2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011) reported an overall annual health-care cost of C$1,686,860 attributed to toxoplasmosis (30). In the Netherlands, the toxoplasmosis burden has been estimated to be ~ €44 million in health costs, with the loss of 1,900 Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) annually (31).…”

“…Also, in the USA ~ 3,000 toxoplasmosis-related hospitalizations were reported in PLWH in 2008 (37). In Canada, HIV comorbidity with toxoplasmosis was detected in 40% of clinical cases between 2002 and 2011, which correlated with an increased number of hospitalizations and treatment cost per case, and accounted for 53% of the total toxoplasmosis-related health-care costs (30). In Tanzania, most deaths attributed to toxoplasmosis were highly associated with HIV/AIDS and TE was responsible for 15.4% of toxoplasmosis deaths (38).…”

Legal aspects associated with the lack of possibilities of preventing the spread of toxocarosis and toxoplasmosis in Poland

“…It is also worth paying attention to other issues; Factors causing toxoplasmosis and toxoplasmosis can be transferred to humans through blood transfusions and transplants.45,108.109 Related illnesses and infections pose a serious public health problem, and the treatment of these diseases is expensive. 48,50,51,78,110 Toxoplasmosis can also be the cause of an increased number of vehicular accidents.111 Keeping in mind that the effects of toxoplasmosis and toxocarosis often affect those closest to the patients, and that in majority of cases the infected are children. Every case of contagion is associated with irreversible health effects.…”