A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the Seropositivity of Toxoplasma gondii in water buffalo in three Iraqi governorates (Baghdad, Dhi Qar, and Maysan) and to estimate the risk aspects related to infest...A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the Seropositivity of Toxoplasma gondii in water buffalo in three Iraqi governorates (Baghdad, Dhi Qar, and Maysan) and to estimate the risk aspects related to infestation throughout the period from January to December 2019. A total of 430 serum samples were inspected with a commercial ELISA (Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) kit. Indirect multi-species kit. The overall Seropositivity of T. gondii in the examined local buffalo was 7.4%, and the highest rate (9.3%) was in Baghdad Governorate. A multivariate regression analysis revealed that adult buffalo (OR = 7.10;95% CI: 0.87-57.68;P = 0.067) and young herds (OR = 8.42;95% CI: 1.07-66.02;P = 0.043) were more subject to infestation from young buffalo and large herds. Furthermore, the hazard of toxoplasmosis was increased in winter especially among animals in contact with cats. It is therefore requisite to determine risk aspects to evaluate which mitigation, control, prevention and procedures should be carried out to diminish, control and prevent infestation with T. gondii and its propagation.展开更多
Background: Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide disease that severely affects the fetuses and immunocompromised patients and results in many critical and life threatening conditions. The present study aimed to evaluate the a...Background: Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide disease that severely affects the fetuses and immunocompromised patients and results in many critical and life threatening conditions. The present study aimed to evaluate the awareness of toxoplasmosis and its preventive behaviors among female students in King Faisal University in Al-Ahssa. Subjects and methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in April 2014 among female students in KFU. The data were collected by a questionnaire from 88 participants. Results: Results showed that 65.4% were not aware of toxoplasmosis, and only 28.2% were aware of its complications or risk factors. This study showed that some people are at risk to get toxoplasmosis as they do not wash their hands with water and soap before eating (48.8%), do not wash the fruits and vegetables with water and soap (78.2%), drink tank water (51.3%) and cat owners don’t follow the proper measures for their cats. However, some people practice some of the preventive behaviors as they do not raise the cats (93.6%) and do not consume unpasteurized or unboiled milk (100%) or undercooked meat (92.3%). Conclusion: The current study proved the low awareness of toxoplasmosis which emphasized the need to educate the people in Al-Ahssa about the preventive methods, especially the pregnant women to prevent the severe complications of congenital infections.展开更多
Among the many parasitic diseases observed in the tropics, Toxoplasmosis is a fairly common occurrence. An infected pregnant woman can transmit it, transplacentally, to her foetus. Two cases of congenital toxoplasmosi...Among the many parasitic diseases observed in the tropics, Toxoplasmosis is a fairly common occurrence. An infected pregnant woman can transmit it, transplacentally, to her foetus. Two cases of congenital toxoplasmosis are discussed in this study. One patient is at 7 days of life, while the other is at 9 days of life. The newborns displayed the typical symptoms of jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, chorioretinitis, and cranioencephalic abnormalities. However, the uniqueness of these observations is the presence of umbilical haemorrhage, a symptom not described in the literature researched. The evolution of this finding, during treatment is distinguished by the symptoms persisting until six months of age, in addition to growth retardation of saturation-weight, with no retardation of psychomotor development in one patient, and with hydrocephalus accompanied by psychomotor retardation in the other one. Hence, it is recommended that pregnant women are systematically screened for toxoplasmosis, and seronegative women are monitored;in fact, the early and suitable management of congenital toxoplasmosis will significantly control this parasitosis.展开更多
Objective:To determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women,as well as the proportion of acutely infected and risk factors in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Methods:Thirty maternities in Kinshasa we...Objective:To determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women,as well as the proportion of acutely infected and risk factors in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Methods:Thirty maternities in Kinshasa were randomly selected and women attending antenatal consultation were invited to participate.They were interviewed with a structured questionnaire about known risk factors(age,meat consumption,contact with soil,and presence of cat)and a venous blood sample was taken.Sera were analysed for total immunoglobulins(Ig)by VIDAS Toxo Competition using Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay.IgM was determined by VIDIA Toxo IgM and IgG avidity by VIDAS Toxo IgG avidity.Results:A total of 781 women were included.Median age was 28 years old(IQR:8.S).And 627women(80.3%;95%CI:77.5-83.1)were found to be positive to total Ig and 17 out of 387(4.4%;95%CI:2.3-6.4)were positive to IgM.IgC avidity was low for 2(11.8%)women,intermediate for 2(11.8%)and high for 13 women(76.4%).There was no statistically significant association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and any risk factors assessed.Conclusion:In Kinshasa,toxoplasmosis endemicity is highly prevalent.One woman out of twenty five had a recent toxoplasmosis infection and 20%were not protected against primoinfection,indicating a need for measures to prevent and control toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.展开更多
AIM: To establish seroprevalence and provide characteristics of Toxoplasma gondii(TG) infection in children with recurrent headaches. METHODS: The study was performed in 178 children aged 7-17 years admitted consecuti...AIM: To establish seroprevalence and provide characteristics of Toxoplasma gondii(TG) infection in children with recurrent headaches. METHODS: The study was performed in 178 children aged 7-17 years admitted consecutively to the Department of Pediatric Neurology from November 2009 to July 2011. The children were surveyed with a questionnaire with the help and assistance of their parents and blood samples taken on admission were studied for the presence of specific anti-TG Ig M, Ig G antibodies and Ig G avidity using enzyme immunoassay Platelia Toxo Ig M, Ig G. RESULTS: The study showed that 19 children(8 boys, 11 girls; 8-17 years old, mean age 14.36 years) hadhigh serum anti-TG Ig G antibody levels(range: 32.2 > 240 UI/m L, mean 120.18 UI/m L; positive value for Ig G was ≥ 9 UI/m L). The avidity index(AI) ranged from 0.202 to 0.925(scale: ≥ 0.5 high AI). The results for Ig M antibodies were all negative and the obtained results ranged from 0.113 to 0.25 U/m L(mean = 0.191 IU/m L) and all values below 0.8 IU/m L were considered negative. The most frequent complaints found in the seropositive patients were headaches that affected the frontal(13 children), occipital(4) and parietal areas(5). Headaches usually had a pulsating(in 7 patients) and squeezing(6) character and rarely were piercing, dull or expanding. Interestingly, 8 children did not feel discomfort during the headaches, probably because they did not have sufficiently increased intracranial pressure yet. The headaches usually appeared 1-2 times/mo, lasted for 2-6 h, and had a mean intensity of 5.5 points in a 10 point subjective scale. The comorbidities included epilepsy(5 patients), various infections in 3 children(chronic eustachitis, chronic rhinitis, chronic purulent tonsillitis, streptococcal pharyngitis, meningitis, allergic diseases), disturbances of behavior, deficits of attention, and ocular and motor concentration disorders in 1 child. The electroencephalographic and neuroimaging studies performed in our patients had a very limited value in establishing cerebral toxoplasmosis.CONCLUSION: Ten point six seven percent of the studied children had markedly increased serum anti-TG Ig G antibodies and high AI indicated chronic infestation. It is suggested that tests for TG infection should be introduced to routine diagnostics in patients with recurrent headaches.展开更多
Objective:To identify more effective and less toxic drugs to treat animal toxoplasmosis.Methods:Efficucy of seven kinds of sulfonamides against Toxoplasma gondii(T.gondii)in an acute murine model was evaluated.The mic...Objective:To identify more effective and less toxic drugs to treat animal toxoplasmosis.Methods:Efficucy of seven kinds of sulfonamides against Toxoplasma gondii(T.gondii)in an acute murine model was evaluated.The mice used throughout the study were randomly assigned to many groups(10 mice each),which either remained uninfected or were infected intraperitoneally with lachyzoites of T.gondii(strains RH and CN).All groups were then treated with different sulfonamides and the optimal treatment protocol was determined candidates.Sulfadiazine-sodium(SD)was used for comparison.Results:The oplimal therapy involved gavaging mice twice per day with 250 mg/kg bw of sulfachloropyrazine-sodium(SPZ)for five days.Using this protocol,the average survival time and the time-point of 50%fatalities were prolonged significantly compared with SD treatment.Treatment with SFZ protected 40%of mice from death,and the heart and kidney tissue of these animals was parasite-free,as determined by nestedPCK.SPZ showed excellent therapeutic effects in the treatment of T.gondii in an acute murine model and is therefore a promising drug candidate for the treatment and prevention of T.gondii in animals.Conclusions:It can be concluded that the effective drug sulfachloropyrazine may be the new therapeutic options against animal toxoplasmosis.展开更多
Over 1 billion people globally are estimated to be infected with Toxoplasma gondii with severe or unknown consequences and no safe and effective therapies are available against congenital or persistent chronic infecti...Over 1 billion people globally are estimated to be infected with Toxoplasma gondii with severe or unknown consequences and no safe and effective therapies are available against congenital or persistent chronic infection. We propose that atovaquone and diclazuril synergistically protect against fetal-maternal toxoplasmosis. Methods: Programmed pregnant mice were treated with atovaquone and diclazuril monotherapy, or combined (atovaquone + diclazuril) therapy and infected with tachyzoites (0, 300, 600) and the course of infection was studied. Results: Infected dams with low dose (300) developed moderate toxoplasmosis complications and treatments were similarly effective with minor differences between monotherapies. In contrast, major differences were observed amongst varied treatments during high-dose (600) infection and severe related-toxoplasmosis complications as follows. Dams developed hydrothorax, ascities and excess weight gain. Combined therapy (P < 0.01) and to a lesser extent diclazuril monotherapy (P 0.05) protected dams from excess weight, hydrothorax, and ascities. Infected dams exhibited splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and severe hepatitis. Combined therapy synergistically normalized pathology (P < 0.001) and to a lesser degree monotherapy (diclazuril P 0.01, and atovaquone P 0.05) protected dams from hepatitis and splemomegaly. Additionally, behavioral response to pain stimuli and fetal weight and fetal numbers were significantly preserved in treated dams. Conclusions: This is the first report describing combined atovaquone and diclazuril therapy a) to be safe in pregnancy, b) to exert novel synergistic effects, and c) to protect dams and their nested fetuses against adverse effects of severe toxoplasmosis.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the possible association between Toxoplasma gondii(T.gondii)infection and breast cancer by examining the seropositivity and serointensity rate of anti-T gondii antibodies in breast cancer pati...Objective:To investigate the possible association between Toxoplasma gondii(T.gondii)infection and breast cancer by examining the seropositivity and serointensity rate of anti-T gondii antibodies in breast cancer patients and healthy volunteers.Methods:This study was carried out on 66 women with breast cancer which consists of 29 newly diagnosed patients(Group 1) and 37 cases undergoing treatment and regular checkups(Group 2).Also,60 healthy women(Group 3) with no history of cancer confirmed by clinical examination and imaging participated in this study.The participants were tested for T.gondii immunoglobulin G(IgG) and immunoglobulin M(IgM) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunoassays.Results:The mean age of Groups 1.2 and 3 were 43.3±6.8,41.8±5.5 and 42.3±4.9.respectively(P=0.72).Overall.104(82.5%) and 8(6.3%) out of 126 women were positive for anti-T gondii IgG and IgM antibodies,respectively.Higher seropositivity rate of anti-T.gondii antibodies(IgG) was seen in breast cancer patients(86.4%) compared with control group(78.3%)(P=0.24).IgG antibodies were detected in 89.2%of cancer patients under treatment.82.7%of newly diagnosed patients(P=0.18).IgM antibodies were found in 3(10.3%),2(5.4%)and 3(5%) in Groups 1.2 and 3.No significant difference was found between the mean titers of T.gondii IgG antibody among these groups(P=0.87).Conclusions:This study did not find any significant association between toxoplasmosis and breast cancer besides higher rates of seropositivity and serointensity in patients compared with healthy volunteers.展开更多
·AIM:To report ocular symptoms,funduscopic findings and demographic distribution of ocular toxoplasmosis in Iran·METHODS:In this cross-sectional study,a total of 40 patients with ocular toxoplasmosis (24 fem...·AIM:To report ocular symptoms,funduscopic findings and demographic distribution of ocular toxoplasmosis in Iran·METHODS:In this cross-sectional study,a total of 40 patients with ocular toxoplasmosis (24 female,16 male) were enrolled.The distribution of symptoms and funduscopic findings were studied.·RESULTS:The patients' age was in the range of 13-52 with the most common age of 19 years old.Twenty-four patients were female (60.0%).The most common presenting sign was visual loss.There was anterior chamber (AC) inflammation in 23 patients (57.5%).Vitritis was presented in 36 patients (90.0%).In 35 patients (87.5%),the retinal lesion was central.In patients with peripheral lesion,3 patients (60.0%) had flashing vs 12.5% chance of flashing in all patients.Older patients had larger lesion (P =0.04).·CONCLUSION:Ocular toxoplasmosis substantially varies among patients with different age,gender,status of immunity,site of lesion and other undetermined factors.One of ocular symptoms,flashing,may necessitate a more precise peripheral fundus examination.·展开更多
Objective:To investigate which cytokines are produced after acute infection of mice with Toxoplasma gondii(T.Gondii) RH strain.Methods:Mus domesticus domesticus mice in infected group were inoculated with with highly ...Objective:To investigate which cytokines are produced after acute infection of mice with Toxoplasma gondii(T.Gondii) RH strain.Methods:Mus domesticus domesticus mice in infected group were inoculated with with highly virulent T.Gondii RH strain by intraperitoneally.Serum samples were obtained from infected and non-infected mice for cytokine levels for ELISA assay.Results:The concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α,interferon-γ,interleukin(IL)- 10 and IL-12 in the cardiac blood sample of the infected mice were significantly higher than those in uninfected controls(P【0.05).The levels of transforming growth factor-1βdecreased in mice infected with T.gondii compared to those of the controls,the decrease was statistically significant(P【0.05).No significant difference was observed in levels of IL-4 between infected and healty control groups(P】0.05).Conclusions:According to our findings,immune response into T helper type 1 was predominant during acute T.gondii infection.Further characterization and purification of Toxoplasma molecule(s) implicated in the regulation of cytokines could lead to the development of new drug prospects to control Toxoplasma infection.展开更多
Background: Toxoplasmosis is a common cause of foodborne, gastrointestinal and congenital syndrome with particularly severe or unknown health consequences. There is no safe and effective preventive or therapeutic moda...Background: Toxoplasmosis is a common cause of foodborne, gastrointestinal and congenital syndrome with particularly severe or unknown health consequences. There is no safe and effective preventive or therapeutic modality against congenital toxoplasmosis or to eliminate the persistent chronic infection. Hypothesis: Diclazuril to be safe in pregnancy and effective against gastrointestinal toxoplasmosis. Methods: CD1 programmed pregnant mice were divided into groups and administered a diet containing diclazuril, or sham control. Treatments were initiated on Day 5 of pregnancy and continued until Day 16 when dams were euthanatized. On Day 8 of pregnancy dams were infected intraperitoneally with escalating doses of tachyzoites (0, 100, 300, 600) from Type II strain. Dams were monitored daily for distress, pain, and abortion and samples collected at the end of the experiments. Results: Infected dams developed moderate to severe Toxoplasma related complications in tachyzoites dose dependent manner. Animals became anemic and showed hydrothorax, and ascities. Diclazuril effectively protected dams from ascities and anemia (p < 0.05). Infected dams showed splenomegaly, with massive infiltration of epithelioid cells compared with the protective effect of diclazuril in treated animals. Infected dams exhibited severe hepatitis (score 0 to 4 scale = 3.5 ± 0.01) with influx of inflammatory and plasma cells, dysplastic hepatocytes, multinucleated giant cell transformation and hepatic cells necrosis. Diclazuril treatment significantly protected dams from hepatitis, also in tachyzoites dose (100, 300, 600) dependent manner (respectively infected-treated versus infected controls, p < 0.001, p < 0.01 and p with infiltration of lymphocytes, and macrophages and microabscess formations in the cryptic structures, with significant improvement in diclazuril treated animals. Additionally, the number of fetuses, fetal length and fetal weight were preserved in diclazuril treated dams. Conclusions: This is the first report describing of diclazuril safety in pregnancy as well as efficacy against mild to moderate hepato-gastrointestinal syndrome in dams and fetal toxoplasmosis (Special issue, “Treatment of Liver Diseases”).展开更多
Objective: To assess knowledge and behaviour related to toxoplasmosis which remains a neglected disease in Morocco.Methods: Observational investigations were conducted among 600 pregnant women from Essaouira Province....Objective: To assess knowledge and behaviour related to toxoplasmosis which remains a neglected disease in Morocco.Methods: Observational investigations were conducted among 600 pregnant women from Essaouira Province.The interview items covered respondents' knowledge of the disease, its preventive practices and risk behaviours.Results: A total of 22/600 women had already carried out the anti-toxoplasmosis test, while, 96% have never done any screening of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies.Only 16/600 women have good information about the disease, its mode of transmission and its complications in both the fetus and his mother.Although most women adopt a healthy diet, the consumption of raw or undercooked meat is far to be considered as a risk factor, along with other potential factors that may foster the acquisition of the disease, such as possessing a domestic cat, educational status and knowledge of the disease.However, in this study, contact with soil was revealed the most important risk factor(P = 0.045), followed by the hygiene conditions after handling raw meat(P = 0.048).Conclusion: The underestimation of the Toxoplasma gondii sero-prevalence in Essaouira Province can be explained by the absence of toxoplasmosis serology in health institutions, as well as the gap of knowledge about the disease by local population.展开更多
Objective:To compare histopathology and PCR based detection in diagnosis of experimentally induced toxoplasmosis of RH human strain of the parasite in murine models.Methods:A comparison of histopathology and PCR based...Objective:To compare histopathology and PCR based detection in diagnosis of experimentally induced toxoplasmosis of RH human strain of the parasite in murine models.Methods:A comparison of histopathology and PCR based detection was done to diagnose experimentally induced toxoplasmosis in ten inbred swiss albino mice after intraperitoneal inoculation of 100 tachyzoites of laboratory mantained human RH strain of the parasite.Tissue samples from lung,liver,spleen,brain,heart and kidney were taken and processed for histopathological examination while all the samples also were subjected to PCR,using primers directed to the multicopy of SAG 3 gene,in dublicates.Results:Histopathology revealed presence of tachyzoites only in liver while along with lung,liver,spleen and brain tissue yielded desired positive PCR amplicons.Conclusions:The SAG 3 based PCR is able to diagnose toxoplasmosis in those tissues which are declared negative by histopathological assay.展开更多
Objective:To assess the concurrent toxoplasmosis infection in Egyptian TB patients and the impact of each infection on the other in terms of increased severity of TB or reactivation of latent Toxoplasma infection.Meth...Objective:To assess the concurrent toxoplasmosis infection in Egyptian TB patients and the impact of each infection on the other in terms of increased severity of TB or reactivation of latent Toxoplasma infection.Methods:Three hundred suspected pulmonary TB cases were initially screened for TB using direct Ziehl Neelsen staining and Lowenstein Jensen culture of their sputa.Rifampicin resistance was detected by Xpert MTB/RIF assay.Control group of 30 age and sex-matched healthy individuals negative for TB was included for comparison.All subjects were further assessed for serum levels of anti-Toxoplasma Ig G antibodies and malondialdehyde(MDA).Results:Forty three confirmed TB-infected patients including 10(23.3%)rifampicin-resistant patients were detected.Associated toxoplasmosis was found to be significantly higher among TB patients(OR=2.709;95%CI:1.034-7.099;P<0.05)and among rifampicin sensitive than rifampicin resistant TB patients(OR=0.213;95%CI:0.048-0.951);P<0.05).Serum levels of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies and MDA were significantly higher among TB patients than the control group.Furthermore,serum level of MDA was significantly higher among TB/Toxoplasma co-infected patients as compared to toxoplasmosis free-TB patients.Strong positive correlation was detected between serum levels of anti-Toxoplasma Ig G and MDA in TB patients(r=0.75,P=0.001).Conclusions:Among pulmonary TB Egyptian patients,there is a considerable prevalence of toxoplasmosis.Severity of pulmonary tuberculosis could be increased by Toxoplasma co-infection.展开更多
Toxoplasmosis is a globally diwstributed parasitic protozoan disease,caused by Toxoplasma gondii.The infection can result in more severe symptoms with potentially life-threatening in case of immunocompromised individu...Toxoplasmosis is a globally diwstributed parasitic protozoan disease,caused by Toxoplasma gondii.The infection can result in more severe symptoms with potentially life-threatening in case of immunocompromised individuals.Sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine are the two drugs used as a part of standard therapy for toxoplasmosis.Researchers have demonstrated the therapeutic effects of medicinal plants for toxoplasmosis,which can be used as an alternative to standard drug therapy with reduced side effects.Traditional herbal plants are used by people to cure a large number of parasitic disorders.This review provides new insights into various medicinal plants that are used traditionally for the treatment of toxoplasmosis and other parasitic infections,which can be useful as an alternative treatment option for Toxoplasma gondii infections.展开更多
Objective:To investigate clinical features,ocular findings,management and follow-up data in a series of immunocompetent patients with active ocular toxoplasmosis.Methods:A prospective study of 25 immunocompetent patie...Objective:To investigate clinical features,ocular findings,management and follow-up data in a series of immunocompetent patients with active ocular toxoplasmosis.Methods:A prospective study of 25 immunocompetent patients with first attack of active ocular toxoplasmosis. Age,gender,clinical presentation and ophthalmic examination finding were recorded.The diagnosis was based on typical finding in ophthalmic examination.Systemic antimicrobials and corticosteroids were given to all patients.The treatment outcome and side-effects of drugs were observed.Results:Thirteen(52%) patients were male and 12(48%) were female.The mean±SD age at presentation was(26.8±11.1) years.Eye involvement was unilateral in 92% of patients and bilateral only in 8%.Lesions were located at the peripheral retina in 48%,at the macula retina in 28%,and at the macula and peripheral retina in 24%of the patients.The most common presenting symptom was blurred vision(96%),followed by eye pain(28%).All patients received antimicrobials treatment.Systemic corticosteroids were used in 48%of the patients. Clinical response were observed in 44%2 weeks before and in 56%2 weeks after.Vision was improved with treatment except in two cases.No recurrences occurred during one year follow up.Conclusions:Our study shows that active ocular toxoplasmosis has no gender predilection and affects young individuals.Unilateral involvement is more common in our study.Response to treatment is good in patients and no recurrences occur during one year follow-up.It may have implications in favor of treatment of active ocular toxoplasmosis.展开更多
Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide intracellular parasite disease of natural focus caused by Toxoplasma gondii,which has become one of the most important zoonoses seriously endangering the livestock industry development and...Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide intracellular parasite disease of natural focus caused by Toxoplasma gondii,which has become one of the most important zoonoses seriously endangering the livestock industry development and socio-economic development in the world.In this paper,advances in the epidemiological characteristics of toxoplasmosis,detection and diagnosis of toxoplasmosis,development of T.gondii vaccines were summarized,which provided scientific basis for the control and treatment of T.gondii infection.展开更多
A sero-prevalence survey of Toxoplasmosis in domestic animals (camels, cattle, sheep and goats) was conducted in the Benadir region of Somalia from January to July 2014 to determine the status of the disease. A total ...A sero-prevalence survey of Toxoplasmosis in domestic animals (camels, cattle, sheep and goats) was conducted in the Benadir region of Somalia from January to July 2014 to determine the status of the disease. A total of 151 sera were tested, 64 camels;28 cattle;29 sheep and 30 goats, for the presence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using Latex Agglutination Test (LAT). Totally about 15.9% (24/151) of studied animals showed sero-positive. The sero-prevalence was found in 6.3% of 64 camels, 7.1% of 28 cattle, 34.5% of 29 sheep and 26.7% of 30 goats. The antibody titres to T. gondii positive sera were 2 (8.3%), 9 (37.5%), 4 (16.7%), 4 (16.7%), 4 (16.7%), 1 (4.2%) and 0 (0%) by dilution of 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, 1:32, 1:64 and 1:128 respectively. Out of 151 domestic animals (45 male and 106 female), 8 (5.3%) males and 16 (10.6%) females were infected with T. gondii. The study recommends the need for further researches in the whole country using different serological tests and to determine the impact of these findings on the human population. It would be important to increase public awareness on zoonotic potential of Toxoplasmosis.展开更多
Report a case of a male patient with a macular scar compatible with ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) in right eye (RE) and review the relevant literature on this disease. A patient, who attended for a routine contact lens fo...Report a case of a male patient with a macular scar compatible with ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) in right eye (RE) and review the relevant literature on this disease. A patient, who attended for a routine contact lens follow up, presented with amblyopic exotropia without any ocular disease. Best-corrected visual acuity of the affected eye was 20/40 with constant and mono-fixation exotropia. Ophthalmoscopic assessment revealed a macular scar compatible with OT. OT is the leading cause of infection in the posterior segment. Inactive cases could be asymptomatic and diagnosis requires a complete eye examination, providing a correct diagnosis and patient management.展开更多
Objectives: Toxoplasma gondii is a ruthless intracellular parasite belonging to Coccidae. Toxoplasmosis is a disease affecting 500 million people worldwide. The seroprevalence varies from 5% to 90% depending on geogra...Objectives: Toxoplasma gondii is a ruthless intracellular parasite belonging to Coccidae. Toxoplasmosis is a disease affecting 500 million people worldwide. The seroprevalence varies from 5% to 90% depending on geographical location, age, habit of eating, raw meat or unwashed fruit and vegetables, and general level of hygiene. The objective of the current study was to assess the prevalence of this parasitic disease which lately seems to be elevated generally in Iraq and particularly in the middle and northern Iraq. A prospective study was carried out on females which attended public hospitals?complaining of abortion and/ or infertility during 2009. Methods: We collected blood samples from the female patients to detect the presence of specific antibodies of Toxoplasma gondii utilizing direct agglutination test which was compared with ELISA techniques for evaluations of their testing sensitivity. The history of all patients was taken particularly abortion and marriage periods with and/ or without children with the family. Results: Direct latex agglutination test and ELISA methodology gave almost the same results when both were utilized for the detection of the toxoplasmosis in the sera of the women examined. A high frequency of toxoplasmosis incidence was seen among women with one abortion group which happen during their marital life. Conclusions: It was concluded that the high prevalence of toxoplasmosis among the investigated high risk women at Al-Hawija and at Al-Baiji districts is due to many risk factors including age, number of deliveries, contact with host animals. This disease was elevated after Iraq occupation with a frequency of infection more than 40% compared to eighties of Iraqi life which was the frequency of the infected women with toxoplasmosis which did not exceed 2% of the women tested at that time by our laboratories.展开更多
文摘A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the Seropositivity of Toxoplasma gondii in water buffalo in three Iraqi governorates (Baghdad, Dhi Qar, and Maysan) and to estimate the risk aspects related to infestation throughout the period from January to December 2019. A total of 430 serum samples were inspected with a commercial ELISA (Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) kit. Indirect multi-species kit. The overall Seropositivity of T. gondii in the examined local buffalo was 7.4%, and the highest rate (9.3%) was in Baghdad Governorate. A multivariate regression analysis revealed that adult buffalo (OR = 7.10;95% CI: 0.87-57.68;P = 0.067) and young herds (OR = 8.42;95% CI: 1.07-66.02;P = 0.043) were more subject to infestation from young buffalo and large herds. Furthermore, the hazard of toxoplasmosis was increased in winter especially among animals in contact with cats. It is therefore requisite to determine risk aspects to evaluate which mitigation, control, prevention and procedures should be carried out to diminish, control and prevent infestation with T. gondii and its propagation.
文摘Background: Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide disease that severely affects the fetuses and immunocompromised patients and results in many critical and life threatening conditions. The present study aimed to evaluate the awareness of toxoplasmosis and its preventive behaviors among female students in King Faisal University in Al-Ahssa. Subjects and methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in April 2014 among female students in KFU. The data were collected by a questionnaire from 88 participants. Results: Results showed that 65.4% were not aware of toxoplasmosis, and only 28.2% were aware of its complications or risk factors. This study showed that some people are at risk to get toxoplasmosis as they do not wash their hands with water and soap before eating (48.8%), do not wash the fruits and vegetables with water and soap (78.2%), drink tank water (51.3%) and cat owners don’t follow the proper measures for their cats. However, some people practice some of the preventive behaviors as they do not raise the cats (93.6%) and do not consume unpasteurized or unboiled milk (100%) or undercooked meat (92.3%). Conclusion: The current study proved the low awareness of toxoplasmosis which emphasized the need to educate the people in Al-Ahssa about the preventive methods, especially the pregnant women to prevent the severe complications of congenital infections.
文摘Among the many parasitic diseases observed in the tropics, Toxoplasmosis is a fairly common occurrence. An infected pregnant woman can transmit it, transplacentally, to her foetus. Two cases of congenital toxoplasmosis are discussed in this study. One patient is at 7 days of life, while the other is at 9 days of life. The newborns displayed the typical symptoms of jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, chorioretinitis, and cranioencephalic abnormalities. However, the uniqueness of these observations is the presence of umbilical haemorrhage, a symptom not described in the literature researched. The evolution of this finding, during treatment is distinguished by the symptoms persisting until six months of age, in addition to growth retardation of saturation-weight, with no retardation of psychomotor development in one patient, and with hydrocephalus accompanied by psychomotor retardation in the other one. Hence, it is recommended that pregnant women are systematically screened for toxoplasmosis, and seronegative women are monitored;in fact, the early and suitable management of congenital toxoplasmosis will significantly control this parasitosis.
基金Supported by the VLIR UOS Project(Grant N.VLIR:42/FA02000/13/5806),University of Antwerp and University of Kinshasa
文摘Objective:To determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women,as well as the proportion of acutely infected and risk factors in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Methods:Thirty maternities in Kinshasa were randomly selected and women attending antenatal consultation were invited to participate.They were interviewed with a structured questionnaire about known risk factors(age,meat consumption,contact with soil,and presence of cat)and a venous blood sample was taken.Sera were analysed for total immunoglobulins(Ig)by VIDAS Toxo Competition using Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay.IgM was determined by VIDIA Toxo IgM and IgG avidity by VIDAS Toxo IgG avidity.Results:A total of 781 women were included.Median age was 28 years old(IQR:8.S).And 627women(80.3%;95%CI:77.5-83.1)were found to be positive to total Ig and 17 out of 387(4.4%;95%CI:2.3-6.4)were positive to IgM.IgC avidity was low for 2(11.8%)women,intermediate for 2(11.8%)and high for 13 women(76.4%).There was no statistically significant association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and any risk factors assessed.Conclusion:In Kinshasa,toxoplasmosis endemicity is highly prevalent.One woman out of twenty five had a recent toxoplasmosis infection and 20%were not protected against primoinfection,indicating a need for measures to prevent and control toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.
文摘AIM: To establish seroprevalence and provide characteristics of Toxoplasma gondii(TG) infection in children with recurrent headaches. METHODS: The study was performed in 178 children aged 7-17 years admitted consecutively to the Department of Pediatric Neurology from November 2009 to July 2011. The children were surveyed with a questionnaire with the help and assistance of their parents and blood samples taken on admission were studied for the presence of specific anti-TG Ig M, Ig G antibodies and Ig G avidity using enzyme immunoassay Platelia Toxo Ig M, Ig G. RESULTS: The study showed that 19 children(8 boys, 11 girls; 8-17 years old, mean age 14.36 years) hadhigh serum anti-TG Ig G antibody levels(range: 32.2 > 240 UI/m L, mean 120.18 UI/m L; positive value for Ig G was ≥ 9 UI/m L). The avidity index(AI) ranged from 0.202 to 0.925(scale: ≥ 0.5 high AI). The results for Ig M antibodies were all negative and the obtained results ranged from 0.113 to 0.25 U/m L(mean = 0.191 IU/m L) and all values below 0.8 IU/m L were considered negative. The most frequent complaints found in the seropositive patients were headaches that affected the frontal(13 children), occipital(4) and parietal areas(5). Headaches usually had a pulsating(in 7 patients) and squeezing(6) character and rarely were piercing, dull or expanding. Interestingly, 8 children did not feel discomfort during the headaches, probably because they did not have sufficiently increased intracranial pressure yet. The headaches usually appeared 1-2 times/mo, lasted for 2-6 h, and had a mean intensity of 5.5 points in a 10 point subjective scale. The comorbidities included epilepsy(5 patients), various infections in 3 children(chronic eustachitis, chronic rhinitis, chronic purulent tonsillitis, streptococcal pharyngitis, meningitis, allergic diseases), disturbances of behavior, deficits of attention, and ocular and motor concentration disorders in 1 child. The electroencephalographic and neuroimaging studies performed in our patients had a very limited value in establishing cerebral toxoplasmosis.CONCLUSION: Ten point six seven percent of the studied children had markedly increased serum anti-TG Ig G antibodies and high AI indicated chronic infestation. It is suggested that tests for TG infection should be introduced to routine diagnostics in patients with recurrent headaches.
基金Supported by a grant from The National Special Research Program for Non-Profit Trades(Agriculture.China)(grant No.200803017)
文摘Objective:To identify more effective and less toxic drugs to treat animal toxoplasmosis.Methods:Efficucy of seven kinds of sulfonamides against Toxoplasma gondii(T.gondii)in an acute murine model was evaluated.The mice used throughout the study were randomly assigned to many groups(10 mice each),which either remained uninfected or were infected intraperitoneally with lachyzoites of T.gondii(strains RH and CN).All groups were then treated with different sulfonamides and the optimal treatment protocol was determined candidates.Sulfadiazine-sodium(SD)was used for comparison.Results:The oplimal therapy involved gavaging mice twice per day with 250 mg/kg bw of sulfachloropyrazine-sodium(SPZ)for five days.Using this protocol,the average survival time and the time-point of 50%fatalities were prolonged significantly compared with SD treatment.Treatment with SFZ protected 40%of mice from death,and the heart and kidney tissue of these animals was parasite-free,as determined by nestedPCK.SPZ showed excellent therapeutic effects in the treatment of T.gondii in an acute murine model and is therefore a promising drug candidate for the treatment and prevention of T.gondii in animals.Conclusions:It can be concluded that the effective drug sulfachloropyrazine may be the new therapeutic options against animal toxoplasmosis.
文摘Over 1 billion people globally are estimated to be infected with Toxoplasma gondii with severe or unknown consequences and no safe and effective therapies are available against congenital or persistent chronic infection. We propose that atovaquone and diclazuril synergistically protect against fetal-maternal toxoplasmosis. Methods: Programmed pregnant mice were treated with atovaquone and diclazuril monotherapy, or combined (atovaquone + diclazuril) therapy and infected with tachyzoites (0, 300, 600) and the course of infection was studied. Results: Infected dams with low dose (300) developed moderate toxoplasmosis complications and treatments were similarly effective with minor differences between monotherapies. In contrast, major differences were observed amongst varied treatments during high-dose (600) infection and severe related-toxoplasmosis complications as follows. Dams developed hydrothorax, ascities and excess weight gain. Combined therapy (P < 0.01) and to a lesser extent diclazuril monotherapy (P 0.05) protected dams from excess weight, hydrothorax, and ascities. Infected dams exhibited splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and severe hepatitis. Combined therapy synergistically normalized pathology (P < 0.001) and to a lesser degree monotherapy (diclazuril P 0.01, and atovaquone P 0.05) protected dams from hepatitis and splemomegaly. Additionally, behavioral response to pain stimuli and fetal weight and fetal numbers were significantly preserved in treated dams. Conclusions: This is the first report describing combined atovaquone and diclazuril therapy a) to be safe in pregnancy, b) to exert novel synergistic effects, and c) to protect dams and their nested fetuses against adverse effects of severe toxoplasmosis.
基金Supported by Babol university of Medical Sciences(Grant No.9135214)
文摘Objective:To investigate the possible association between Toxoplasma gondii(T.gondii)infection and breast cancer by examining the seropositivity and serointensity rate of anti-T gondii antibodies in breast cancer patients and healthy volunteers.Methods:This study was carried out on 66 women with breast cancer which consists of 29 newly diagnosed patients(Group 1) and 37 cases undergoing treatment and regular checkups(Group 2).Also,60 healthy women(Group 3) with no history of cancer confirmed by clinical examination and imaging participated in this study.The participants were tested for T.gondii immunoglobulin G(IgG) and immunoglobulin M(IgM) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunoassays.Results:The mean age of Groups 1.2 and 3 were 43.3±6.8,41.8±5.5 and 42.3±4.9.respectively(P=0.72).Overall.104(82.5%) and 8(6.3%) out of 126 women were positive for anti-T gondii IgG and IgM antibodies,respectively.Higher seropositivity rate of anti-T.gondii antibodies(IgG) was seen in breast cancer patients(86.4%) compared with control group(78.3%)(P=0.24).IgG antibodies were detected in 89.2%of cancer patients under treatment.82.7%of newly diagnosed patients(P=0.18).IgM antibodies were found in 3(10.3%),2(5.4%)and 3(5%) in Groups 1.2 and 3.No significant difference was found between the mean titers of T.gondii IgG antibody among these groups(P=0.87).Conclusions:This study did not find any significant association between toxoplasmosis and breast cancer besides higher rates of seropositivity and serointensity in patients compared with healthy volunteers.
文摘·AIM:To report ocular symptoms,funduscopic findings and demographic distribution of ocular toxoplasmosis in Iran·METHODS:In this cross-sectional study,a total of 40 patients with ocular toxoplasmosis (24 female,16 male) were enrolled.The distribution of symptoms and funduscopic findings were studied.·RESULTS:The patients' age was in the range of 13-52 with the most common age of 19 years old.Twenty-four patients were female (60.0%).The most common presenting sign was visual loss.There was anterior chamber (AC) inflammation in 23 patients (57.5%).Vitritis was presented in 36 patients (90.0%).In 35 patients (87.5%),the retinal lesion was central.In patients with peripheral lesion,3 patients (60.0%) had flashing vs 12.5% chance of flashing in all patients.Older patients had larger lesion (P =0.04).·CONCLUSION:Ocular toxoplasmosis substantially varies among patients with different age,gender,status of immunity,site of lesion and other undetermined factors.One of ocular symptoms,flashing,may necessitate a more precise peripheral fundus examination.·
文摘Objective:To investigate which cytokines are produced after acute infection of mice with Toxoplasma gondii(T.Gondii) RH strain.Methods:Mus domesticus domesticus mice in infected group were inoculated with with highly virulent T.Gondii RH strain by intraperitoneally.Serum samples were obtained from infected and non-infected mice for cytokine levels for ELISA assay.Results:The concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α,interferon-γ,interleukin(IL)- 10 and IL-12 in the cardiac blood sample of the infected mice were significantly higher than those in uninfected controls(P【0.05).The levels of transforming growth factor-1βdecreased in mice infected with T.gondii compared to those of the controls,the decrease was statistically significant(P【0.05).No significant difference was observed in levels of IL-4 between infected and healty control groups(P】0.05).Conclusions:According to our findings,immune response into T helper type 1 was predominant during acute T.gondii infection.Further characterization and purification of Toxoplasma molecule(s) implicated in the regulation of cytokines could lead to the development of new drug prospects to control Toxoplasma infection.
文摘Background: Toxoplasmosis is a common cause of foodborne, gastrointestinal and congenital syndrome with particularly severe or unknown health consequences. There is no safe and effective preventive or therapeutic modality against congenital toxoplasmosis or to eliminate the persistent chronic infection. Hypothesis: Diclazuril to be safe in pregnancy and effective against gastrointestinal toxoplasmosis. Methods: CD1 programmed pregnant mice were divided into groups and administered a diet containing diclazuril, or sham control. Treatments were initiated on Day 5 of pregnancy and continued until Day 16 when dams were euthanatized. On Day 8 of pregnancy dams were infected intraperitoneally with escalating doses of tachyzoites (0, 100, 300, 600) from Type II strain. Dams were monitored daily for distress, pain, and abortion and samples collected at the end of the experiments. Results: Infected dams developed moderate to severe Toxoplasma related complications in tachyzoites dose dependent manner. Animals became anemic and showed hydrothorax, and ascities. Diclazuril effectively protected dams from ascities and anemia (p < 0.05). Infected dams showed splenomegaly, with massive infiltration of epithelioid cells compared with the protective effect of diclazuril in treated animals. Infected dams exhibited severe hepatitis (score 0 to 4 scale = 3.5 ± 0.01) with influx of inflammatory and plasma cells, dysplastic hepatocytes, multinucleated giant cell transformation and hepatic cells necrosis. Diclazuril treatment significantly protected dams from hepatitis, also in tachyzoites dose (100, 300, 600) dependent manner (respectively infected-treated versus infected controls, p < 0.001, p < 0.01 and p with infiltration of lymphocytes, and macrophages and microabscess formations in the cryptic structures, with significant improvement in diclazuril treated animals. Additionally, the number of fetuses, fetal length and fetal weight were preserved in diclazuril treated dams. Conclusions: This is the first report describing of diclazuril safety in pregnancy as well as efficacy against mild to moderate hepato-gastrointestinal syndrome in dams and fetal toxoplasmosis (Special issue, “Treatment of Liver Diseases”).
文摘Objective: To assess knowledge and behaviour related to toxoplasmosis which remains a neglected disease in Morocco.Methods: Observational investigations were conducted among 600 pregnant women from Essaouira Province.The interview items covered respondents' knowledge of the disease, its preventive practices and risk behaviours.Results: A total of 22/600 women had already carried out the anti-toxoplasmosis test, while, 96% have never done any screening of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies.Only 16/600 women have good information about the disease, its mode of transmission and its complications in both the fetus and his mother.Although most women adopt a healthy diet, the consumption of raw or undercooked meat is far to be considered as a risk factor, along with other potential factors that may foster the acquisition of the disease, such as possessing a domestic cat, educational status and knowledge of the disease.However, in this study, contact with soil was revealed the most important risk factor(P = 0.045), followed by the hygiene conditions after handling raw meat(P = 0.048).Conclusion: The underestimation of the Toxoplasma gondii sero-prevalence in Essaouira Province can be explained by the absence of toxoplasmosis serology in health institutions, as well as the gap of knowledge about the disease by local population.
文摘Objective:To compare histopathology and PCR based detection in diagnosis of experimentally induced toxoplasmosis of RH human strain of the parasite in murine models.Methods:A comparison of histopathology and PCR based detection was done to diagnose experimentally induced toxoplasmosis in ten inbred swiss albino mice after intraperitoneal inoculation of 100 tachyzoites of laboratory mantained human RH strain of the parasite.Tissue samples from lung,liver,spleen,brain,heart and kidney were taken and processed for histopathological examination while all the samples also were subjected to PCR,using primers directed to the multicopy of SAG 3 gene,in dublicates.Results:Histopathology revealed presence of tachyzoites only in liver while along with lung,liver,spleen and brain tissue yielded desired positive PCR amplicons.Conclusions:The SAG 3 based PCR is able to diagnose toxoplasmosis in those tissues which are declared negative by histopathological assay.
文摘Objective:To assess the concurrent toxoplasmosis infection in Egyptian TB patients and the impact of each infection on the other in terms of increased severity of TB or reactivation of latent Toxoplasma infection.Methods:Three hundred suspected pulmonary TB cases were initially screened for TB using direct Ziehl Neelsen staining and Lowenstein Jensen culture of their sputa.Rifampicin resistance was detected by Xpert MTB/RIF assay.Control group of 30 age and sex-matched healthy individuals negative for TB was included for comparison.All subjects were further assessed for serum levels of anti-Toxoplasma Ig G antibodies and malondialdehyde(MDA).Results:Forty three confirmed TB-infected patients including 10(23.3%)rifampicin-resistant patients were detected.Associated toxoplasmosis was found to be significantly higher among TB patients(OR=2.709;95%CI:1.034-7.099;P<0.05)and among rifampicin sensitive than rifampicin resistant TB patients(OR=0.213;95%CI:0.048-0.951);P<0.05).Serum levels of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies and MDA were significantly higher among TB patients than the control group.Furthermore,serum level of MDA was significantly higher among TB/Toxoplasma co-infected patients as compared to toxoplasmosis free-TB patients.Strong positive correlation was detected between serum levels of anti-Toxoplasma Ig G and MDA in TB patients(r=0.75,P=0.001).Conclusions:Among pulmonary TB Egyptian patients,there is a considerable prevalence of toxoplasmosis.Severity of pulmonary tuberculosis could be increased by Toxoplasma co-infection.
文摘Toxoplasmosis is a globally diwstributed parasitic protozoan disease,caused by Toxoplasma gondii.The infection can result in more severe symptoms with potentially life-threatening in case of immunocompromised individuals.Sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine are the two drugs used as a part of standard therapy for toxoplasmosis.Researchers have demonstrated the therapeutic effects of medicinal plants for toxoplasmosis,which can be used as an alternative to standard drug therapy with reduced side effects.Traditional herbal plants are used by people to cure a large number of parasitic disorders.This review provides new insights into various medicinal plants that are used traditionally for the treatment of toxoplasmosis and other parasitic infections,which can be useful as an alternative treatment option for Toxoplasma gondii infections.
文摘Objective:To investigate clinical features,ocular findings,management and follow-up data in a series of immunocompetent patients with active ocular toxoplasmosis.Methods:A prospective study of 25 immunocompetent patients with first attack of active ocular toxoplasmosis. Age,gender,clinical presentation and ophthalmic examination finding were recorded.The diagnosis was based on typical finding in ophthalmic examination.Systemic antimicrobials and corticosteroids were given to all patients.The treatment outcome and side-effects of drugs were observed.Results:Thirteen(52%) patients were male and 12(48%) were female.The mean±SD age at presentation was(26.8±11.1) years.Eye involvement was unilateral in 92% of patients and bilateral only in 8%.Lesions were located at the peripheral retina in 48%,at the macula retina in 28%,and at the macula and peripheral retina in 24%of the patients.The most common presenting symptom was blurred vision(96%),followed by eye pain(28%).All patients received antimicrobials treatment.Systemic corticosteroids were used in 48%of the patients. Clinical response were observed in 44%2 weeks before and in 56%2 weeks after.Vision was improved with treatment except in two cases.No recurrences occurred during one year follow up.Conclusions:Our study shows that active ocular toxoplasmosis has no gender predilection and affects young individuals.Unilateral involvement is more common in our study.Response to treatment is good in patients and no recurrences occur during one year follow-up.It may have implications in favor of treatment of active ocular toxoplasmosis.
基金Supported by Project of Jiaxing Science and Technology Bureau(2013AY21035)
文摘Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide intracellular parasite disease of natural focus caused by Toxoplasma gondii,which has become one of the most important zoonoses seriously endangering the livestock industry development and socio-economic development in the world.In this paper,advances in the epidemiological characteristics of toxoplasmosis,detection and diagnosis of toxoplasmosis,development of T.gondii vaccines were summarized,which provided scientific basis for the control and treatment of T.gondii infection.
文摘A sero-prevalence survey of Toxoplasmosis in domestic animals (camels, cattle, sheep and goats) was conducted in the Benadir region of Somalia from January to July 2014 to determine the status of the disease. A total of 151 sera were tested, 64 camels;28 cattle;29 sheep and 30 goats, for the presence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using Latex Agglutination Test (LAT). Totally about 15.9% (24/151) of studied animals showed sero-positive. The sero-prevalence was found in 6.3% of 64 camels, 7.1% of 28 cattle, 34.5% of 29 sheep and 26.7% of 30 goats. The antibody titres to T. gondii positive sera were 2 (8.3%), 9 (37.5%), 4 (16.7%), 4 (16.7%), 4 (16.7%), 1 (4.2%) and 0 (0%) by dilution of 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, 1:32, 1:64 and 1:128 respectively. Out of 151 domestic animals (45 male and 106 female), 8 (5.3%) males and 16 (10.6%) females were infected with T. gondii. The study recommends the need for further researches in the whole country using different serological tests and to determine the impact of these findings on the human population. It would be important to increase public awareness on zoonotic potential of Toxoplasmosis.
文摘Report a case of a male patient with a macular scar compatible with ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) in right eye (RE) and review the relevant literature on this disease. A patient, who attended for a routine contact lens follow up, presented with amblyopic exotropia without any ocular disease. Best-corrected visual acuity of the affected eye was 20/40 with constant and mono-fixation exotropia. Ophthalmoscopic assessment revealed a macular scar compatible with OT. OT is the leading cause of infection in the posterior segment. Inactive cases could be asymptomatic and diagnosis requires a complete eye examination, providing a correct diagnosis and patient management.
文摘Objectives: Toxoplasma gondii is a ruthless intracellular parasite belonging to Coccidae. Toxoplasmosis is a disease affecting 500 million people worldwide. The seroprevalence varies from 5% to 90% depending on geographical location, age, habit of eating, raw meat or unwashed fruit and vegetables, and general level of hygiene. The objective of the current study was to assess the prevalence of this parasitic disease which lately seems to be elevated generally in Iraq and particularly in the middle and northern Iraq. A prospective study was carried out on females which attended public hospitals?complaining of abortion and/ or infertility during 2009. Methods: We collected blood samples from the female patients to detect the presence of specific antibodies of Toxoplasma gondii utilizing direct agglutination test which was compared with ELISA techniques for evaluations of their testing sensitivity. The history of all patients was taken particularly abortion and marriage periods with and/ or without children with the family. Results: Direct latex agglutination test and ELISA methodology gave almost the same results when both were utilized for the detection of the toxoplasmosis in the sera of the women examined. A high frequency of toxoplasmosis incidence was seen among women with one abortion group which happen during their marital life. Conclusions: It was concluded that the high prevalence of toxoplasmosis among the investigated high risk women at Al-Hawija and at Al-Baiji districts is due to many risk factors including age, number of deliveries, contact with host animals. This disease was elevated after Iraq occupation with a frequency of infection more than 40% compared to eighties of Iraqi life which was the frequency of the infected women with toxoplasmosis which did not exceed 2% of the women tested at that time by our laboratories.
