Knowledge and Practices of Toxoplasmosis among Clinical Laboratory Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Durango, Mexico

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and practices about toxoplasmosis in a sample of clinical laboratory professionals in Mexico. Methods: 192 clinical laboratory professionals were surveyed. They were asked about (1) Toxoplasma gondii; (2) clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiology of toxoplasmosis; and (3) their practices with respect to toxoplasmosis. Results: The range of animals infected by T. gondii was known by 44.8% of participants. Clinical aspects of toxoplasmosis were known by up to 44.3% of subjects. Correct answers about the interpretation of serological markers of T. gondii infection were provided by up to 32.8% of participants. A minority (32.2%) of participants knew about a high number of false positive results of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody tests. Most participants (90.1%) did not know what the anti-T. gondii IgG avidity test was. Up to 55.7% of participants provided incorrect answers about the interpretation of serology tests for the treatment of pregnant women. Common routes of T. gondii infection were known by <15% of participants. Most (84.4%) participants had not performed tests for detection T. gondii infection. Conclusions: Results indicate incomplete knowledge of T. gondii infection and toxoplasmosis and a limited practice of laboratory tests among the professionals surveyed.

The first report of the evaluation of the knowledge regarding toxoplasmosis among health professionals in public health centers in Rabat, Morocco

“…In the current study, most of the HPs correctly answered questions related to knowledge of the infectious agent (over 80%) and the definitive hosts (64.58%). These results are consistent with those of a study conducted in Mexico, where most participants correctly answered that T. gondii is a parasite (89.6%) and that cats are definitive hosts (83.8%) [13].…”

“…According to the knowledge of the diagnosis, the vast majority (over 70%) of HPs knew about the detection of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies as the pathway test for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, while 82 (85.42%) did not know about the avidity test as a complementary technique used in serology as a dating test for infection during the first months of pregnancy. Similarly, the lack of knowledge of the avidity test found in the present study has also been reported by physicians caring for pregnant women in Mexico and the USA, where 90.1% and 87.3% of HPs, respectively, did not know about the avidity test [13,22]. Indeed, IgM detection was not always considered a sufficient argument to conclude recent infection [23].…”

“…In Ethiopia, Abebe et al reported that only 6.1% of study participants mentioned that drinking unboiled water is an important mode of transmission [8]. In Nigeria, less than one-third (28%) of the medical doctors participating in the study knew that the T. gondii infection can be a waterborne disease [9], and in Mexico, only slightly higher than one-third of respondents knew that water can transmit the toxoplasmosis parasite (13%) [13].…”

“…A study carried out in the Rabat region in Morocco showed that the avidity test of anti-T. gondii IgG made it possible to exclude seroconversion of less than 20 weeks in 72.2% of cases [27]. However, polymerase chain reaction-based molecular techniques are also useful for the diagnosis of T. gondii infection in cases of proven fetal infection (positive amniocentesis) or strongly suspected late maternal contamination [13]. It is generally known that cases of serological suspicion of primary infection should be confirmed with additional tests, such as the avidity-IgG test [7].…”

“…In Mexico, most doctors had incomplete knowledge about the treatment of congenital toxoplasmosis; only 23% of doctors knew what medications are recommended against congenital toxoplasmosis in pregnant women. Another study undertaken in Mexico updated the knowledge of toxoplasmosis among HPs and reported that up to 55.7% of participants provided incorrect answers regarding the interpretation of serology tests for the treatment of pregnant women [13].…”