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Clinical Infectious Diseases : An... May 2021
Topics: Animals; Deer; Disease Outbreaks; Genotype; Humans; Incidence; Meat; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis
PubMed: 32412061
DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa288 -
Pathogens and Global Health Oct 2017Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, and is associated with clinically significant infection in... (Review)
Review
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, and is associated with clinically significant infection in immunocompromised individuals. Vertical transmission during pregnancy can manifest as congenital toxoplasmosis in the neonate, and can have serious consequences. This review aims to describe the modalities for prophylaxis of toxoplasmosis in susceptible populations, and focuses on the following: (1) prophylaxis of congenital toxoplasmosis; (2) prophylaxis of toxoplasmosis in patients with HIV/AIDS; and (3) prophylaxis of toxoplasmosis in transplant recipients.
Topics: HIV Infections; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Toxoplasmosis; Transplant Recipients
PubMed: 28948861
DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2017.1370528 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Mar 2023Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by an intracellular protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. It is usually asymptomatic, but toxoplasmosis acquired during pregnancy can cause...
BACKGROUND
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by an intracellular protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. It is usually asymptomatic, but toxoplasmosis acquired during pregnancy can cause congenital toxoplasmosis, potentially resulting in fetal damage. Epidemiological information is lacking for toxoplasmosis in Mayotte (a French overseas territory). We evaluated (1) the prevalence of maternal toxoplasmosis, (2) the incidence of maternal and congenital toxoplasmosis, and (3) the management of congenital toxoplasmosis in Mayotte.
METHODOLOGY / PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
We collected all the available data for toxoplasmosis serological screening during pregnancy and maternal and congenital cases of toxoplasmosis obtained between January 2017 and August 2019 at the central public laboratory of Mayotte (Mamoudzou). Using toxoplasmosis serological data from samples collected from 16,952 pregnant women we estimated the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in Mayotte at 67.19%. Minimum maternal toxoplasmosis incidence was estimated at 0.29% (49/16,952, 95% CI (0.0022-0.0038)), based on confirmed cases of maternal primary infection only. The estimated incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis was 0.09% (16/16,952, 95% CI (0.0005-0.0015). Missing data made it difficult to evaluate management, but follow-up was better for mothers with confirmed primary infection and their infants.
CONCLUSIONS / SIGNIFICANCE
The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women and the incidence of toxoplasmosis are higher in Mayotte than in mainland France. There is a need to improve the antenatal toxoplasmosis screening and prevention programme, providing better information to physicians and the population, to improve management and epidemiological monitoring.
Topics: Infant; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Toxoplasmosis, Congenital; Prevalence; Incidence; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Comoros; Toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasma; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic; Antibodies, Protozoan
PubMed: 36940228
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011198 -
Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets 2023Toxoplasmosis constitutes a challenge for public health, animal production, and welfare. So far, only a limited panel of drugs has been marketed for clinical... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Toxoplasmosis constitutes a challenge for public health, animal production, and welfare. So far, only a limited panel of drugs has been marketed for clinical applications. In addition to classical screening, the investigation of unique targets of the parasite may lead to the identification of novel drugs.
AREAS COVERED
Herein, the authors describe the methodology to identify novel drug targets in Toxoplasma gondii and review the literature with a focus on the last two decades.
EXPERT OPINION
Over the last two decades, the investigation of essential proteins of T. gondii as potential drug targets has fostered the hope of identifying novel compounds for the treatment of toxoplasmosis. Despite good efficacies in vitro, only a few classes of these compounds are effective in suitable rodent models, and none has cleared the hurdle to applications in humans. This shows that target-based drug discovery is in no way better than classical screening approaches. In both cases, off-target effects and adverse side effects in the hosts must be considered. Proteomics-driven analyses of parasite- and host-derived proteins that physically bind drug candidates may constitute a suitable tool to characterize drug targets, irrespectively of the drug discovery methods.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasma; Drug Discovery; Drug Delivery Systems
PubMed: 37212443
DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2217353 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2022is known to have a complex life cycle and infect almost all kinds of warm-blooded animals around the world. The brain of the host could be persistently infected by... (Review)
Review
is known to have a complex life cycle and infect almost all kinds of warm-blooded animals around the world. The brain of the host could be persistently infected by cerebral cysts, and a variety of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and suicide have been reported to be related with latent toxoplasmosis. The infected animals showed fear reduction and a tendency to be preyed upon. However, the mechanism of this "parasites manipulation" effects have not been elucidated. Here, we reviewed the recent infection prevalence of toxoplasmosis and the evidence of mental and behavioral disorders induced by and discussed the related physiological basis including dopamine dysregulation and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) pathway and the controversial opinion of the necessity for cerebral cysts existence. Based on the recent advances, we speculated that the neuroendocrine programs and neurotransmitter imbalance may play a key role in this process. Simultaneously, studies in the evaluation of the expression pattern of related genes, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and mRNAs of the host provides a new point for understanding the mechanism of neurotransmitter dysfunction induced by parasite manipulation. Therefore, we summarized the animal models, strains, and behavioral tests used in the related epigenetic studies and the responsible epigenetic processes; pinpointed opportunities and challenges in future research including the causality evidence of human psychiatric disorders, the statistical analysis for rodent-infected host to be more vulnerable preyed upon; and identified responsible genes and drug targets through epigenetics.
Topics: Animals; Epigenesis, Genetic; Humans; Mental Disorders; RNA, Messenger; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasmosis, Animal
PubMed: 35237531
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.803502 -
Parasitology Research May 2023Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a significantly increased incidence rate across the world over the past few years. Toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus (CMV)...
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a significantly increased incidence rate across the world over the past few years. Toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection are globally prevalent and have been associated with diverse neurological and psychiatric disorders. A few studies have demonstrated the role of toxoplasmosis and CMV as potential etiological factors for autism. Accordingly, this study was performed to estimate the relationship between toxoplasmosis and CMV infection in children with autism as well as to assess their impact on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) score. A total of 45 autistic children (6 girls, 39 boys) and 45 (21 girls, 24 boys) healthy control children were enrolled in our study. Their blood samples were collected and tested for the presence of Toxoplasma and CMV (IgG and IgM) antibodies and DNA by ELISA and real-time PCR (RT-PCR), respectively. Toxoplasmosis was detected in 11 (24.4%) autistic children through the ELISA [10 (22.2%) IgG + /IgM - and 1 (2.2%) IgG + /IgM +]; however, RT-PCR assay recorded only 1 positive case (2.2%), while it was detected in 10 (22.2%) control children through ELISA [9 (20%) IgG + /IgM - and 1 (2.2%) IgG + /IgM +] and 1 (2.2%) by RT-PCR. On the other hand, CMV infection was detected in all autistic children with 44 (97.8%) testing positive by ELISA [24 (53.3%) IgG + /IgM - , 18 (40%) IgG + /IgM + and 2 (4.4%) IgG - /IgM +] and 25 (55.6%) testing positive by RT-PCR assay. In addition, ELISA assay recorded 43 (95.6%) [19 (42.2%) IgG + /IgM + and 22 (48.9%) IgG + /IgM - and 2 (4.4%) IgG-/IgM +] and RT-PCR recorded 21 (46.7%) positive samples in control children with CMV. No significant difference was noted between autistic and control children for the overall prevalence of Toxoplasma or/and CMV infection. Similarly, the CARS score indicated a non-significant difference with Toxoplasma or/and CMV infection. Our data does not show an association between autism and toxoplasmosis or/and CMV infection. Nevertheless, considering that autistic children are at a high risk of contracting these infections, further studies with a larger sample size are recommended.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Child; Autistic Disorder; Egypt; Toxoplasmosis; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Toxoplasma; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Immunoglobulin M; Immunoglobulin G
PubMed: 36917369
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07818-2 -
BMC Pediatrics Mar 2021Toxoplasmosis resulting from infection with the Toxoplasma parasite has become an endemic disease worldwide. Recently, a few studies have reported a high prevalence of...
BACKGROUND
Toxoplasmosis resulting from infection with the Toxoplasma parasite has become an endemic disease worldwide. Recently, a few studies have reported a high prevalence of Toxoplasmosis infections among Saudi Arabian women. This disease could become life threatening for pregnant women and for immunodeficient people. There is evidence that infections during pregnancy, especially in the early stages, are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Autism disorder represents one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders worldwide; it is associated with delayed language development, weak communication interaction, and repetitive behavior. The relationship between prenatal toxoplasmosis and autism in childhood remains unclear. The present study aims to report a link between maternal toxoplasmosis and autistic offspring among Saudi Arabian women.
METHOD
Blood samples (36 maternal, 36 from their non-autistic children, and 36 from their autistic children) were collected for serological and molecular evaluation.
RESULTS
A toxoplasmosis infection was reported for 33.34% of participants using an ELISA assay (5.56% IgG+/IgM+, 11.11% IgG-/IgM+, and 16.67% IgG+/IgM-); however, a nested PCR assay targeting B1 toxoplasmosis specific genes recorded positive tests for 80.56% of the samples. In addition, the present study detected several points of mutation of mtDNA including NADH dehydrogenase (ND1, ND4) and Cyt B genes and the nDNA pyruvate kinase (PK) gene for autistic children infected with toxoplasmosis.
CONCLUSION
Considering previous assumptions, we suggest that a maternal toxoplasmosis infection could have a role in the development of childhood autism linked to mtDNA and nDNA impairment.
Topics: Autistic Disorder; Child; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin M; Pregnancy; Saudi Arabia; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis
PubMed: 33731054
DOI: 10.1186/s12887-021-02604-4 -
BioMed Research International 2015Apicomplexan parasites cause infectious diseases that are either a severe public health problem or an economic burden. In this paper we will shed light on how oxidative... (Review)
Review
Apicomplexan parasites cause infectious diseases that are either a severe public health problem or an economic burden. In this paper we will shed light on how oxidative stress can influence the host-pathogen relationship by focusing on three major diseases: babesiosis, coccidiosis, and toxoplasmosis.
Topics: Animals; Babesia; Babesiosis; Coccidiosis; Cryptosporidium; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Oxidative Stress; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis
PubMed: 25722976
DOI: 10.1155/2015/351289 -
Cellular Microbiology Nov 2019Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a parasitic protist that can infect nearly all nucleated cell types and tissues of warm-blooded vertebrate hosts. T. gondii utilises a... (Review)
Review
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a parasitic protist that can infect nearly all nucleated cell types and tissues of warm-blooded vertebrate hosts. T. gondii utilises a unique form of gliding motility to cross cellular barriers, enter tissues, and penetrate host cells, thus enhancing spread within an infected host. However, T. gondii also disseminates by hijacking the migratory abilities of infected leukocytes. Traditionally, this process has been viewed as a route to cross biological barriers such as the blood-brain barrier. Here, we review recent findings that challenge this view by showing that infection of monocytes downregulates the program of transendothelial migration. Instead, infection by T. gondii enhances Rho-dependent interstitial migration of monocytes and macrophages, which enhances dissemination within tissues. Collectively, the available evidence indicates that T. gondii parasites use multiple means to disseminate within the host, including enhanced motility in tissues and translocation across biological barriers.
Topics: Animals; Blood-Brain Barrier; Cell Movement; Central Nervous System Infections; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Integrins; Leukocytes; Macrophages; Monocytes; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis; Transendothelial and Transepithelial Migration
PubMed: 31219666
DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13070 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Dec 2020Infections with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii are frequent, but one of its main consequences, ocular toxoplasmosis (OT), remains poorly understood. While its... (Review)
Review
Infections with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii are frequent, but one of its main consequences, ocular toxoplasmosis (OT), remains poorly understood. While its clinical description has recently attracted more attention and publications, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are only sparsely elucidated, which is partly due to the inherent difficulties to establish relevant animal models. Furthermore, the particularities of the ocular environment explain why the abundant knowledge on systemic toxoplasmosis cannot be just transferred to the ocular situation. However, studies undertaken in mouse models have revealed a central role of interferon gamma (IFNγ) and, more surprisingly, interleukin 17 (IL17), in ocular pathology and parasite control. These studies also show the importance of the genetic background of the infective Toxoplasma strain. Indeed, infections due to exotic strains show a completely different pathophysiology, which translates in a different clinical outcome. These elements should lead to more individualized therapy. Furthermore, the recent advance in understanding the immune response during OT paved the way to new research leads, involving immune pathways poorly studied in this particular setting, such as type I and type III interferons. In any case, deeper knowledge of the mechanisms of this pathology is needed to establish new, more targeted treatment schemes.
Topics: Eye; Eye Diseases; Humans; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis
PubMed: 33382688
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008905