A systematic review and meta-analysis of Toxoplasma gondii infection among the Mexican population

Abstract

BackgroundToxoplasmosis is a disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii and at least one-third of the world’s population has detectable T. gondii antibodies. The seroprevalence of T.gondii ranges from 15% to 50% among the Mexican general population. The aim of this work was to determine the mean prevalence and weighted mean prevalence of T. gondii infection, and to evaluate the epidemiological transition of infection in Mexico.MethodsPub Med, Lilacs, Medline, Latindex, Google Scholar data bases were searched to retrieve reports from 1951 up to 2012 regarding prevalence data, diagnostic tests and risk factors of infection among the adult population. Data collection and criteria eligibility was established in order to determine the crude prevalence (proportion of positive cases) of each study, together with weighted population prevalence according to individual research group categories to limit the bias that may impose the heterogeneous nature of the reports. A Forest Plot chart and linear regression analysis were performed by plotting the prevalence of infection reported from each study over a period of sixty years.ResultsA total of 132 studies were collected from 41 publications that included 70,123 individuals. The average mean prevalence was 27.97%, and weighted mean prevalence was 19.27%. Comparisons among different risk groups showed that the weighted prevalence was higher in women with miscarriages (36.03%), immunocompromised patients (28.54%), mentally-ill patients (38.52%) and other risk groups (35.13%). Toxoplasma infection among the Mexican population showed a downward trend of 0.1%/year over a period of sixty years that represents a 5.8% reduction in prevalence.ConclusionsThis analysis showed a downward trend of infection; however, there are individuals at high risk for infection such as immunocompromised patients, mentally-ill patients and pregnant women. Further research is required to provide better prevention strategies, effective diagnostic testing and medical management of patients. Educational efforts are required to avoid the transmission of infection in populations that cannot be controlled by drugs alone.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among Iranian pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…There is no routine screening programme for toxoplasmosis in the Islamic Republic of Iran (8) and there is no agreement on the best strategy for control of congenital toxoplasmosis (11) although treatment is very important, especially among immunocompromised patients and pregnant women (1).…”

“…This agent causes toxoplasmosis among humans and animals and is one of the most prevalent chronic infections, infecting onethird of the world population (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). Three main modes are responsible for fetal: consumption of including raw or semi-cooked meat, eating the oocytes defecated by cats and vertical transmission from an infected pregnant mother to her fetus (6)(7).…”

Anti-Toxoplasma IgM and IgG Seropositivity Among Individuals Referred to a Clinical Laboratory of Isfahan, Central Iran

“…The prevalence of the infection in India and China was reported as 30.9% and 12.5%, respectively (18,19). In the general Mexican population, T. gondii infection rate was reported as 20.26% (20). Except China and Mexico, in the other mentioned countries, the infection rate with T. gondii is higher than that found in Isfahan.…”

A new era of uveitis: impact of polymerase chain reaction in intraocular inflammatory diseases

“…Fetal infection in early pregnancy can cause miscarriage or stillbirth. Infection in the middle or late period of pregnancy can cause chorioretinitis, cerebral edema, brain calcification, or mental retardation, in addition to low birth weight [125]. Chorioretinitis often exhibits bilateral presentation, and it is often found as necrotic scar lesions of the macula.…”