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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 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 -
The Journal of the Royal College of... Sep 1969
Topics: Animals; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Mice; Pregnancy; Toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasmosis, Animal; Toxoplasmosis, Congenital
PubMed: 5393848
DOI: No ID Found -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Jun 2018Toxoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan infection caused by an intracellular obligatory protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. Infection to this parasite in immunocompetent patients is... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Toxoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan infection caused by an intracellular obligatory protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. Infection to this parasite in immunocompetent patients is usually asymptomatic, but today it is believed that the infection can be a risk factor for a variety of diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an autoimmune disease and the most common type of inflammatory arthritis that is a major cause of disability. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to address the association between RA and toxoplasmosis in light of the available research.
METHODS
Based on the keywords, a systematic search of eight databases was conducted to retrieve the relevant English-language articles. Then, the studies were screened based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The random effect model was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) using forest plot with 95% confidence interval (CI).
RESULTS
Overall, 4168 Individual, extracted from 9 articles were included for systematic review evaluation, with 1369 RA patients (46% positive toxoplasmosis) and 2799 individuals as controls (21% positive toxoplasmosis). Then, eight articles (10 datasets) were used for meta-analysis (1244 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 2799 controls). By random effect model, the combined OR was 3.30 (95% CI: 2.05 to 5.30) with P < 0.0001.
CONCLUSION
Although toxoplasmosis could be considered as a potential risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis, more and better quality studies are needed to determine the effect of T. gondii infection on induction or exacerbation of RA. Our study was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; code: CRD42017069384).
Topics: Antibodies, Protozoan; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Humans; Odds Ratio; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis
PubMed: 29870527
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006545 -
British Medical Journal May 1973
Review
Topics: Animals; Antibodies; Cats; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Disease Vectors; Humans; Immunity; Leucomycins; Pyrimethamine; Sulfonamides; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasmosis, Congenital; Toxoplasmosis, Ocular
PubMed: 4576366
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.2.5864.475 -
PloS One 2018The prevalence of toxoplasmosis is higher in schizophrenics than in the general population. It has been suggested that certain symptoms of schizophrenia, including...
BACKGROUNDS
The prevalence of toxoplasmosis is higher in schizophrenics than in the general population. It has been suggested that certain symptoms of schizophrenia, including changes in olfactory functions, are in fact symptoms of toxoplasmosis that can be easily detected in schizophrenics only due to the increased prevalence of toxoplasmosis in this population. Schizophrenics have impaired identification of odors and lower sensitivity of odor detection, however, no information about these parameters of non-schizophrenic Toxoplasma-infected subjects is available.
METHODS
Here we searched for differences in olfactory functions between 62 infected and 61 noninfected non-schizophrenic subjects using the case-controls experimental design.
RESULTS
The infected men scored better than the non-infected controls in the standard odor-identification test. The infected women rated all smells as more intensive while the infected men rated nearly all smells as less intensive. Infected women rated the pleasantness of the smell of the cat urine as higher than the non-infected women and the opposite was true for the men-in contrast, higher pleasantness of odor in infected men and lower in infected women were observed and described in the 2011 study. Toxoplasmosis, Rh, and toxoplasmosis-Rh interaction were not associated with the rated pleasantness of the smell of other stimuli. However, our sample contained only 17 Rh negative men and 30 Rh negative women. Therefore, all results concerning the main effects of Rh factor and the interaction with Rh factor must be considered only preliminary.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that latent toxoplasmosis is associated with changes in the olfactory functions in humans; however, the observed changes differ from those observed in schizophrenics.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Case-Control Studies; Cats; Female; Humans; Male; Odorants; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; Schizophrenia; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis; Urine; Young Adult
PubMed: 30589911
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209773 -
Epidemiology and Infection Oct 2020Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonotic infectious disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii. This infection is estimated to affect about a third of the world's population. The...
Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonotic infectious disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii. This infection is estimated to affect about a third of the world's population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of Italian women about toxoplasmosis and its forms of transmission, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and prevention through two different modalities (e-research and traditional research). In a cross-sectional study, 808 Italian women were interviewed, using a self-administered questionnaire, through two different modalities: an e-research or web survey and a traditional paper research and 84% reported to have heard about toxoplasmosis, but from most of the sample, it resulted that the knowledge of the protozoan disease was superficial and incomplete.The assessment of the dimensionality related to the toxoplasmosis knowledge's instrument showed that the scale is composed by two stable and reliable factors which explain 58.6% of the variance: (a) the basic knowledge (α = 0.83), which explains the 45.2% of the variance and (b) the specialist knowledge (α = 0.71), which explains the 13.4% of the variance. The variance and the multiple linear regression data analysis showed significant predictors of correct basic knowledge of toxoplasmosis: the highest age, the highest degree of study, to have previously contracted illness or to know someone who had contracted it, to be working or to be housewives. In conclusion, this study showed limited awareness of toxoplasmosis and suggested the implementation of effective education and learning programs. The results also showed that online data collection, in academic research, might be a valid alternative to more traditional (paper-and-pencil) surveys.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data Collection; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Italy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Toxoplasmosis; Young Adult; Zoonoses
PubMed: 33023706
DOI: 10.1017/S0950268820002393 -
Seminars in Immunopathology Nov 2012Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite of medical and veterinary significance that is able to infect any warm-blooded vertebrate host. In addition to its importance... (Review)
Review
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite of medical and veterinary significance that is able to infect any warm-blooded vertebrate host. In addition to its importance to public health, several inherent features of the biology of T. gondii have made it an important model organism to study host-pathogen interactions. One factor is the genetic tractability of the parasite, which allows studies on the microbial factors that affect virulence and allows the development of tools that facilitate immune studies. Additionally, mice are natural hosts for T. gondii, and the availability of numerous reagents to study the murine immune system makes this an ideal experimental system to understand the functions of cytokines and effector mechanisms involved in immunity to intracellular microorganisms. In this article, we will review current knowledge of the innate and adaptive immune responses required for resistance to toxoplasmosis, the events that lead to the development of immunopathology, and the natural regulatory mechanisms that limit excessive inflammation during this infection.
Topics: Adaptive Immunity; Animals; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis; Virulence
PubMed: 22955326
DOI: 10.1007/s00281-012-0339-3 -
British Medical Journal (Clinical... Jan 1981
Topics: Animals; Cats; Child; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Risk; Toxoplasmosis
PubMed: 6779971
DOI: No ID Found -
Reumatologia Clinica Nov 2023To explore the association between T. gondii and autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs).
PURPOSE
To explore the association between T. gondii and autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs).
METHODS
This study involved 82 patients with ARDs: 44 rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 28 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 10 systemic sclerosis (SSc) and 61 age- and sex-matched controls. Sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected, and disease activity was assessed. Exposure to toxoplasmosis risk factors was investigated. Serological tests for anti-Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies were assessed using ELISA.
RESULTS
In SLE patients, a significant difference of T. gondii IgM versus controls was detected (P=.03). In RA and SLE patients, T. gondii IgG showed a significant difference versus controls (34 (77.3%) P=.001 and 18 (64.3%) P=.03, respectively). There was no significant difference in SSc versus controls. Fetal congenital anomalies displayed a significant difference in IgM seropositive compared to seronegative patients (P=.04). Cat exposure showed a significant difference between IgM and IgG seropositive versus seronegative patients (12 (80.0%) P=.02 and 34 (59.6) P=.04, respectively). There was no significant difference in seropositive patients regarding history of abortion, neuro-psychiatric manifestations, disease activity parameters (ESR, CRP), or different regimens of medications.
CONCLUSION
Toxoplasma IgM seropositivity is associated with SLE patients. T. gondii IgG seropositivity is associated with both RA and SLE patients. However, Toxoplasma seropositivity had no association with SSc patients. An association between fetal congenital anomalies and IgM seropositivity was demonstrated. A linkage between cat exposure as a risk factor and toxoplasmosis was suggested among ARD patiants. Exploration of impact of toxoplasmosis on ARDs is a necessity through randomized controlled trials.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Egypt; Antibodies, Protozoan; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasma; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Respiratory Distress Syndrome
PubMed: 37945182
DOI: 10.1016/j.reumae.2023.03.006