Epidemic Toxoplasmosis Associated with Infected Cats

Sm, Teutsch; Dd, Juranek; Sulzer, Alexander J.; Jp, Dubey; Rk, Sikes

doi:10.1056/nejm197903293001302

Cited by 213 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…both through direct contact wilh humans and by contamination of Ule soil with oocysls (22)(23)(24)(25)(26) . The seroprevalence in Ule present study of 28% and 24% in non-Caucasians and Caucasians.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasmosis in the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia

Proctor

Banerjee²

1994

Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiolog

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OBJECTIVE: To detem1ine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in vegetarian and non vegetarian members of different elhnic communities in Lhe lower Fraser Valley of Bt;tish Columbia . DESIGN: Serum samples were collected from 2027 participants drawn from various ethnic groups and tested by ELISA for U1e presence of immunoglobulin (lg) G and IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Coded questionnaires requesting infom1ation relevant to the study were completed by each participant. The study population comprised 1334 females and 693 males: ages ranged from 17 lo 102 years . MAIN REsULTS: Four hundred and nineteen (20.7%) indiv;duals were IgG positive with lilres ranging from I: 100 lo I :3200. IgM antibodies were detected in only four indiv;duals. The seroprevalence rose wilh increase in age but U1ere was no signi fi cant difference between males and females. A positive correlation was shown between ingestion of meat and between consumption of unpasteurized milk and antibodies lo T gondii. Eighty per cent of females between the ages of 17 and 40. of all eU1nic origins. were seronegative. Seropositiv;Ly did nol differ between cal owners and non-cal owners. CoNCLUSIONS: Women of childbearing age are at risk of acquiring toxoplasmosis during pregnancy and of transmitting the infection lransplacenlally. Consu mption of undercooked meal and unpasteurized milk may result in Lhe acqu isition of toxoplasmosis. Data suggest Lhal acquisition of toxoplasmosis is more likely via env;ronmenlal oocysls or cysts in food source animals than by direct contact with cats.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasmosis in the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia

Proctor

Banerjee²

1994

Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiolog

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“…These patients were infected during an outbreak of toxoplasmosis at a riding stable in 1977 (13); most samples had T. gondii-specific IgG levels of Ͼ2,000 IU/ml, and all contained T. gondii-specific IgM and IgA. The past-infection group included 25 sera collected from individuals who had had toxoplasmosis many months or years earlier (the exact times were unknown), as demonstrated by the presence of T. gondii-specific IgG (5 to 1,000 IU/ml) but the absence of T. gondii-specific IgM and IgA (13).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simplified Assay for Measuring Toxoplasma gondii Immunoglobulin G Avidity

Prince

Wilson²

2001

Clin Diagn Lab Immunol

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A Toxoplasma gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) avidity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed that combines the accuracy of assays based on end point titers and the relative ease of assays based on optical density values. Like published procedures, the new assay's avidity index (AI) was based on differential T. gondii-specific IgG reactivity in serum-treated wells washed with urea buffer versus that in wells washed with control buffer; unlike previous assays, however, the IgG reactivity was measured quantitatively using a standard curve. The assay was evaluated using 24 IgG-positive and IgM-positive sera collected within 5 months of the onset of symptoms (recent-infection group) and 25 IgG-positive and IgM-negative sera (past-infection group). All sera in the recent-infection group exhibited AI values of <0.18, whereas all sera in the past-infection group exhibited AI values of >0.27. The AI values of the recent-infection group showed significant correlation with the number of days after the onset of symptoms. A subset of 16 sera (8 recent and 8 past) was tested using a commercially available T. gondii IgG avidity ELISA based on end point titration; the results of the two assays showed highly significant correlation (R 2 ‫؍‬ 0.9125). In addition, we confirmed and extended the findings of other investigators, showing that AI values calculated using optical density values, but not AI values calculated using quantitative IgG values, varied significantly depending on the serum dilution used. This new assay should facilitate the accurate measurement of T. gondii IgG avidity in a reference laboratory setting.Measurement of Toxoplasma gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) avidity (binding strength) is a powerful tool for distinguishing recent from past T. gondii infection. Detection of low-avidity IgG is a reliable indicator of infection within the previous 8 months, whereas detection of high-avidity IgG essentially excludes the possibility that infection occurred within the previous 5 months (2, 4, 7). T. gondii IgG avidity measurement is particularly valuable for approximating the time of infection in pregnant women found to be positive for T. gondii IgG and IgM at the time of their first prenatal care visit (4,7,8,12).IgG avidity measurement is based on the differential elution of antigen-bound IgG using urea-containing wash buffer; lowavidity IgG dissociates from antigen in the presence of urea, whereas high-avidity IgG remains bound to antigen (2). Results for avidity assays are generally expressed as an avidity index (AI), which reflects the relative amount of T. gondiispecific IgG detected following washes with urea buffer versus that found following washes with control buffer. Published methods differ, however, in how these IgG levels are expressed. Using the end point titration method, multiple dilutions of patient sera are tested, and titers are defined in relation to a cutoff optical density (OD) value (2, 4-7). Drawbacks to this method include the requirement for four or more dilutions of a specimen, t...

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“…Toxoplasma gondii, the etiologic agent of toxoplasmosis, is transmitted in nature to persons who ingest tissue cysts in undercooked meat or oocysts from feline feces that have had time to sporulate and thus to become infectious; waterborne transmission of oocysts can also occur. The possibility of transmission through swallowing inhaled oocysts has been suggested (163). Congenital transmission and transmission by blood transfusion also occur (157).…”

Section: General Commentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Laboratory-Acquired Parasitic Infections from Accidental Exposures

2001

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SUMMARY Parasitic diseases are receiving increasing attention in developed countries in part because of their importance in travelers, immigrants, and immunocompromised persons. The main purpose of this review is to educate laboratorians, the primary readership, and health care workers, the secondary readership, about the potential hazards of handling specimens that contain viable parasites and about the diseases that can result. This is accomplished partly through discussion of the occupationally acquired cases of parasitic infections that have been reported, focusing for each case on the type of accident that resulted in infection, the length of the incubation period, the clinical manifestations that developed, and the means by which infection was detected. The article focuses on the cases of infection with the protozoa that cause leishmaniasis, malaria, toxoplasmosis, Chagas' disease (American trypanosomiasis), and African trypanosomiasis. Data about 164 such cases are discussed, as are data about cases caused by intestinal protozoa and by helminths. Of the 105 case-patients infected with blood and tissue protozoa who either recalled an accident or for whom the likely route of transmission could be presumed, 47 (44.8%) had percutaneous exposure via a contaminated needle or other sharp object. Some accidents were directly linked to poor laboratory practices (e.g., recapping a needle or working barehanded). To decrease the likelihood of accidental exposures, persons who could be exposed to pathogenic parasites must be thoroughly instructed in safety precautions before they begin to work and through ongoing training programs. Protocols should be provided for handling specimens that could contain viable organisms, using protective clothing and equipment, dealing with spills of infectious organisms, and responding to accidents. Special care should be exercised when using needles and other sharp objects.

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Epidemic Toxoplasmosis Associated with Infected Cats

Cited by 213 publications

References 15 publications

The Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasmosis in the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia

The Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasmosis in the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia

Simplified Assay for Measuring Toxoplasma gondii Immunoglobulin G Avidity

Laboratory-Acquired Parasitic Infections from Accidental Exposures

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