Human toxoplasma infection

Abstract

1. By the dye test, toxoplasma antibodies in titres of 1/4 or more, were found in the sera of 25% of a sample of adult population of Sheffield.2. Significantly higher, when strength as well as number was considered, were the reactions of the sera of veterinary surgeons and abattoir workers.3. Still higher were the reactions of the sera of those who handled rabbits. Highest of all were those of rabbit trappers.4. Toxoplasma antibodies active to a titre of 1/40 in the dye test were found in 34% of wild rabbits and, to a titre of 1/160, in 5%.Thanks are due to the hundreds of volunteers who made the survey possible. The Medical Officers of Health of Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester and the veterinary officers, superintendents of markets and food inspectors in these cities made admirable arrangements, which are gratefully recorded, for the obtaining of specimens. Valuable advice and help in obtaining samples from rabbits were given by officers of the Pests Control Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and by their trappers. Dr Marmion supplied some of the sera from veterinary surgeons. The assistance of the technical staff of the Bacteriology Department, University of Sheffield, is gratefully acknowledged. The work was assisted by a grant to C.P.B. from the Medical Research Council.

Toxoplasmosis and the wild rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus in Victoria, Australia with suggested mechanisms for dissemination of oocysts

“…Munday (1969) also reported the isolation of T. gondii from 3 of 34 rabbits but did not present serological data for these rabbits. Beverley, Beattie & Roseman (1954), in a study of English wild rabbits, found 34 % to have a dye test titre of 1 in 40 and 5 % to have a titre of 1 in 160. However, Lainson (1955) failed to isolate T. gondii from 122 English wild rabbits.…”

“…However, Lainson (1955) failed to isolate T. gondii from 122 English wild rabbits. He suggested that either the distribution of T. gondii in the wild was very localized or that the dye test titres reported by Beverley et al (1954) indicated 'experience' with Toxoplasma antigen rather than actual infection. Riemann et al (1978) stated that 'high antibody responses (indirect haemagglutination titres of 1 in 4016) are a result of recent, first-time exposure, chronic infection or repeated exposure to infection'.…”

Toxoplasmosis

“…This may be demonstrated with the toxoplasmin skin test [558], which elicits delayed hypersensitivity. The large-scale use of the skin test, especially in population surveys, has yielded excellent agreement between the results of this test for delayed hypersensitivity and the presence or absence of antibody [558][559][560][561][562][563]. False-positive skin test results are rare [564].…”

Epidemiologic Study of 100 Cases of Toxoplasmic Uveitis: Implications for Diagnosis and Prevention

“…A study in Sheffield revealed that positive dye-tests with higher fitres were more prevalent in trappers, abattoir workers, animal handlers and veterinarians than in the remainder of the population in the same region. 33 The trapped animals also had positive dye-tests. The fact that 20% of all female patients were sewing-machine operators in clothing factories could not be disregarded, and further questioning revealed that their workrooms had to be subjected to exterminatioii procedures regularly and rat-traps set.…”