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Purpose: To study the role of Toxoplasma IgG avidity in evaluating the stage of systemic infection during manifestation as toxoplasma retinochoroiditis and its clinical implications in eastern India. Methods: Retrospective chart review of Toxoplasma retinochoroiditis cases with Toxoplasma serology for IgG, IgM, and IgG avidity. Results: Included in this study were 17 eyes of 17 patients who had active retinitis located in the macula (14), mid-periphery (2), or periphery (1). They were either primary lesions (12) or reactivations (5). All the cases had Toxoplasma IgG positive; one case had IgM positivity, while all the cases had high IgG avidity values. IgG avidity had a positive correlation with the duration of symptoms. Conclusion: We observed high IgG avidity values in active retinochoroiditis in both primary ocular Toxoplasmosis and reactivation subgroups. These results indicate a late ocular manifestation after initial systemic infection with a possible incubation period ranging from 5 weeks to 5 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The symptomatology of COVID-19 is dependent on the immune status and the cytokine response of the host. The cytokine level of the host is influenced by the presence of chronic persistent or latent infections with co-pathogens. Parasitic diseases are known to induce host immune-modulation which may impact the response to co-infection. Toxoplasmosis is a widespread protozoal infection that remains quiescent in its latent form to be re-activated during states of immune depression. Clinical data on the relation between toxoplasmosis and COVID-19 cytokine profile and symptomatology are still insufficient. Seventy-nine subjects were included in this study. Patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 by PCR. Serological testing for toxoplasmosis was performed by the detection of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies, in addition to IgG avidity testing. IFN-γ and TNF-α levels were determined by RT-PCR. Among patients diagnosed with COVID-19, 67.1% were seronegative for anti-Toxoplasma IgG, while 32.9% were seropositive. High avidity was found in 10 cases (40% of seropositive cases), 4 of whom required ICU administration, while low avidity was found in 15 cases (60%), 7 of which were administered to the ICU. TNF-α and INF-γ levels were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients than in healthy control subjects. No significant association was found between the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis and the presence of COVID-19 and its severity. Cytokines were significantly higher in both seropositive and seronegative COVID-19 patients than in their control counterparts. The high prevalence of toxoplasmosis merits further exploration of its relation to COVID-19 by mass studies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by infection with a type of coccidial protozoan parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. The relationship between toxoplasmosis and cognitive disorders in neurodegenerative diseases has been proven. There is also evidence that children born to Toxoplasma-infected mothers are more likely to develop autism., Methods: In the present study, Toxoplasma-infected pregnant BALB/c mice were given valproic acid to induce autism in their male offspring, and their social behaviors, learning, and memory were examined. Chronic toxoplasmosis was established in BALB/c mice by intraperitoneal injection of cyst form of T. gondii. To induce autism, 600 mg/kg of valproic acid was injected intraperitoneally into mice on the 12.5th day of pregnancy. The behavioral experiments, such as social interaction, novel object recognition, and passive avoidance tasks, were performed on male offspring at 50 days., Results: Toxoplasma and valproic acid during the embryonic period caused social communication deficits and disrupted recognition memory and avoidance memory in offspring. Our findings showed that administering valproic acid to Toxoplasma-infected mothers exacerbates cognitive disorders in their offspring., (© 2023 International Society for Developmental Neuroscience.)

Objective: This study aimed to assess the avidity of IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in fertile-aged women with a history of abortion. Using the recomLine Toxoplasma IgG Avidity kit, the research investigated the relationship between antibody avidity, T. gondii antigens (GRA1 and SAG1), and the number of abortions to enhance understanding of infection dynamics in this population. Methods: Forty (40) fertile aged women (18-37 years) with history of abortion and had positive results of IgG Abs by minividus form October 2021 to April 2022, Kit of recomLine Toxoplasma IgG Avidity form Mikrogen / Germany, item No. 11010, was used, which is a qualitative in vitro test for the determination the avidity of IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in human serum or plasma. Results: Phase II of toxoplasmosis was positive of antibodies against different antigens detected by recomLine assay, no other significant relation was observed. Also, that there was no significant relation between the period of infection and avidity of IgG-Abs against different antigens of T.gondii detected by recomLine test. In addition the results showed that there was a significant relation between of the number of abortions to GRA1-antigen (P = 0.012) and SAG1-antigen (P = 0.003). Conclusion: There was a significant relation between of the number of abortions to GRA1 and SAG1-antigens detected by recomLine assay, where increase in the positive results with the increase in the number of abortions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To understand how congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) diagnosis has evolved over the years, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the kind of analysis that has been employed for CT diagnosis. Methods. PubMed and Lilacs databases were used in order to access the kind of analysis that has been employed for CT diagnosis in several samples. Our search combined the following combining terms: "congenital toxoplasmosis" or "gestational toxoplasmosis" and "diagnosis" and "blood," "serum," "amniotic fluid," "placenta," or "colostrum." We extracted data on true positive, true negative, false positive, and false negative to generate pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR). Random-effects models using MetaDTA were used for analysis. Results. Sixty-five articles were included in the study aiming for comparisons (75.4%), diagnosis performance (52.3%), diagnosis improvement (32.3%), or to distinguish acute/chronic infection phases (36.9%). Amniotic fluid (AF) and placenta were used in 36.9% and 10.8% of articles, respectively, targeting parasites and/or T. gondii DNA. Blood was used in 86% of articles for enzymatic assays. Colostrum was used in one article to search for antibodies. In meta-analysis, PCR in AF showed the best performance for CT diagnosis based on the highest summary sensitivity (85.1%) and specificity (99.7%) added to lower magnitude heterogeneity. Conclusion. Most of the assays being researched to diagnose CT are basically the same traditional approaches available for clinical purposes. The range in diagnostic performance and the challenges imposed by CT diagnosis indicate the need to better explore pregnancy samples in search of new possibilities for diagnostic tools. Exploring immunological markers and using bioinformatics tools and T. gondii recombinant antigens should address the research needed for a new generation of diagnostic tools to face these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasma gondii is a neurotropic protozoan parasite that affects neuronal processing in the brain. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of T. gondii infection in psychiatric disorder patients. We also investigated the potential association between sociodemographic, clinical manifestation, and behavior of Toxoplasma-seropositive patients with psychiatric disorders. Commercial ELISAs (IgG, IgM, and IgG avidity) using serum and PCR using buffy coat were performed on samples from 54 individuals in each of the following groups: patients diagnosed with depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, as well as psychiatrically healthy subjects (control group). They were recruited from the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia in Kelantan, Malaysia. Of 54 patients with depressive disorder, 24/54 (44.4 %) were seropositive for IgG, and four (16.7 %) were IgG+/IgM+. Among the latter, a high avidity index indicating a past infection was observed in half of the samples (50.0 %), and the other half (50.0 %) showed a low avidity index, indicating a possible recent infection. Meanwhile, 30/54 (55.6 %) patients with bipolar disorder were seropositive for IgG+, five (16.7 %) were IgG+/IgM+, and four of them had a high avidity index, and one had a low avidity index. Patients with schizophrenia showed 29/54 (53.7 %) seropositive for IgG, two of them (6.9 %) were IgG+/IgM+; one of latter had a high avidity index, and one had a low avidity index. Of 54 people in the control group, 37.0 % (20/54) were seropositive for T. gondii IgG antibodies. However, no significant difference was observed in seroprevalence between the control group and each patient group. No PCR-positive results were documented. A Chi-Square and multiple logistic regression showed that age (p = 0.031), close contact with cats/pets (p = 0.033) and contact with soil (p = 0.012) were significantly associated with Toxoplasma seropositivity in patients with psychiatric disorders. Additional research is needed to elucidate the causal relationships and underlying mechanisms., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background & Objective: Toxoplasmosis is a globally prevalent opportunistic zoonotic infection. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease which is manifested as joint inflammation, pain, stiffness, and swelling. The patients may contract toxoplasmosis, especially when receiving antirheumatic immunosuppressive therapy. However conflicting results have been reported on toxoplasmosis in RA patients. We aimed to evaluate Toxoplasma gondii positivity and associated risk factors in patients with RA in Duhok province, Iraq, and to assess the role of antirheumatic therapy in toxoplasmosis and the possibility of its reactivation. Methodology: This case-control study was carried out in Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, from February 2022 to June 2023. A total of 88 RA patients, with and without concurrent antirheumatic therapy, were recruited. The diagnosis of RA was according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League. RA-patients were categorized into three groups: Group 1 - no-therapy (n = 14); Group 2 - conventional therapy (n = 49) and Group 3 - biologics in combination with conventional medications (n = 25). Healthy subjects (n = 61) were also selected as controls. Plasma samples obtained from the participants were screened for T. gondii infection using Human anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibody IgG. IgG positive samples were tested utilizing human anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibody IgM ELISA Kit and the avidity T. gondii IgG ELISA kit was used to determine the state of infection. Results: Of the 88 RA patients, with or without antirheumatic therapy, 76 (86.36%) were females and 12 (13.64%) were males. Patients on therapy (n = 74) received several conventional antirheumatic drugs of which methotrexate was the most frequently used one (86.36%). Among biological therapies, etanercept, a TNF-alpha inhibitor, was mostly used (13.51%). The toxoplasmosis was significantly less in the older age group (> 50 y) compared to individuals under 30 y. Gender had no significant effect. Toxoplasma IgG positivity was found to be significantly higher in the three groups of RA patients in comparison with healthy controls. Further assessment of anti-Toxoplasma IgM positivity and Toxoplasma IgG avidity results to identify the state of T. gondii infection in anti-Toxoplasma IgG positive subjects revealed that the frequency of reactivation of toxoplasmosis in RA patient groups was not significantly different from that of the control counterparts. Conclusion: The study showed higher seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in patients with RA irrespective of therapy; therefore, we could consider toxoplasmosis interaction with RA in the pathogenesis of both diseases. This seroprevalence was higher in younger age groups, but with no significant role of gender, duration of disease, duration of therapy and its type. No significant difference was noted in rates of reactivation of latent T. gondii infection among RA patients and healthy controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), presents a significant global health concern, particularly for immunocompromised individuals and congenitally infected newborns. Despite its widespread prevalence, there are limited data on T. gondii seroprevalence and ocular toxoplasmosis in Romania. This review aims to summarize the research accomplished on the prevalence and epidemiology of human ocular toxoplasmosis in Romania. Ocular toxoplasmosis, a leading cause of infectious posterior uveitis worldwide, involves complex interactions between host immune responses and parasite factors. Clinically, it presents as focal necrotizing retinitis, characterized by active focal retinal lesions with adjacent chorioretinal scarring, often accompanied by vitreous inflammation and anterior chamber reactions. Diagnosis relies on clinical examination supported by fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and serological assays. The authors followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards, conducting a literature review on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Our focus was on ocular toxoplasmosis in Romania, and we used keywords and specific MeSH terms. Finally, 17 articles met all the criteria, as summarized in the PRISMA diagram. This study underscores the need for improved diagnostic methods, increased research efforts, and comprehensive public health education to mitigate the burden of toxoplasmosis and ocular toxoplasmosis in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Klimik Journal / Klimik Dergisi is the property of DOC Design & Informatics Co. Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Coinfection of tuberculosis (TB) and human parasitic infections is common in developing countries. There is little information about the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection among TB patients in Iran. In this case–control study, anti-toxoplasma antibodies were measured by ELISA method in 100 patients with active tuberculosis and 100 healthy individuals who were matched in terms of sex, age, and place of residence. Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were diagnosed in 62% of TB patients (95% CI 53–71%) and 70% of control subjects (95% CI 62–78%). Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were found in 1% of both TB patients and control group. The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was not significantly different between TB patients and healthy individuals (P > 0.05). None of the assessed sociodemographic and behavioral factors was recognized as a risk factor for toxoplasmosis in TB infected patients. Moreover, the level of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies concentration in TB patients was significantly higher than in control subjects and revealed skewness towards humoral immune response in TB patients. Coinfection of toxoplasmosis and tuberculosis was prevalent but T. gondii infection was independent of active TB in this co-endemic area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Congenital toxoplasmosis is a treatable, preventable disease, but untreated causes death, prematurity, loss of sight, cognition and motor function, and substantial costs worldwide. Objectives: We asked whether high performance of an Immunochromatographic-test (ICT) could enable accurate, rapid diagnosis/treatment, establishing new, improved care-paradigms at point-of-care and clinical laboratory. Methods: Data were obtained in 12 studies/analyses addressing: 1-feasibility/efficacy; 2-false-positives; 3-acceptability; 4-pink/black-line/all studies; 5-time/cost; 6-Quick-Information/Limit-of-detection; 7, 8-acute;-chronic; 9-epidemiology; 10-ADBio; 11,12-Commentary/Cases/Chronology. Findings: ICT was compared with gold-standard or predicate-tests. Overall, ICT performance for 1093 blood/4967 sera was 99.2%/97.5% sensitive and 99.0%/99.7% specific. However, in clinical trial, FDA-cleared-predicate tests initially caused practical, costly problems due to false-positive-IgM results. For 58 persons, 3/43 seronegative and 2/15 chronically infected persons had false positive IgM predicate tests. This caused substantial anxiety, concerns, and required costly, delayed confirmation in reference centers. Absence of false positive ICT results contributes to solutions: Lyon and Paris France and USA Reference laboratories frequently receive sera with erroneously positive local laboratory IgM results impeding patient care. Therefore, thirty-two such sera referred to Lyon's Reference laboratory were ICT-tested. We collated these with other earlier/ongoing results: 132 of 137 USA or French persons had false-positive local laboratory IgM results identified correctly as negative by ICT. Five false positive ICT results in Tunisia and Marseille, France, emphasize need to confirm positive ICT results with Sabin-Feldman-Dye-test or western blot. Separate studies demonstrated high performance in detecting acute infections, meeting FDA, CLIA, WHO REASSURED, CEMark criteria and patient and physician satisfaction with monthly-gestational-ICT-screening. Conclusions/significance: This novel paradigm using ICT identifies likely false positives or raises suspicion that a result is truly positive, rapidly needing prompt follow up and treatment. Thus, ICT enables well-accepted gestational screening programs that facilitate rapid treatment saving lives, sight, cognition and motor function. This reduces anxiety, delays, work, and cost at point-of-care and clinical laboratories. Trial registration: NCT04474132, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04474132ClinicalTrials.gov Author summary: Toxoplasmosis is a major health burden for developed and developing countries, causing damage to eyes and brain, loss of life and substantial societal costs. Prompt diagnosis in gestational screening programs enables treatment, thereby relieving suffering, and leading to > 14-fold cost savings for care. Herein, we demonstrate that using an ICT that meets WHO REASSURED-criteria identifying persons with/without antibody to Toxoplasma gondii in sera and whole blood with high sensitivity and specificity, is feasible to use in USA clinical practice. We find this new approach can help to obviate the problem of detection of false positive anti-T. gondii IgM results for those without IgG antibodies to T. gondii when this occurs in present, standard of care, predicate USA FDA cleared available assays. Thus, this accurate test facilitates gestational screening programs and a global initiative to diagnose and thereby prevent and treat T. gondii infection. This minimizes likelihood of false positives (IgG and/or IgM) while maintaining maximum sensitivity. When isolated IgM antibodies are detected, it is necessary to confirm and when indicated continue follow up testing in ~2 weeks to establish seroconversion. Presence of a positive ICT makes it likely that IgM is truly positive and a negative ICT makes it likely that IgM will be a false positive without infection. These results create a new, enthusiastically-accepted, precise paradigm for rapid diagnosis and validation of results with a second-line test. This helps eliminate alarm and anxiety about false-positive results, while expediting needed treatment for true positive results and providing back up distinguishing false positive tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that affects mainly young people. It is believed that the autoimmune process observed in the pathogenesis of MS is influenced by a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors, including infectious agents. The results of this study suggest the protective role of Toxoplasma gondii infections in MS. Interestingly, high Toxoplasma IgM seropositivity in MS patients receiving immunomodulatory drugs (IMDs) was identified. On the other hand, Borrelia infections seem to be positively associated with MS. Although the interpretation of our results is limited by the retrospective nature of the studies, the results strongly indicate that further experimental and clinical studies are needed to explain the role of infectious agents in the development and pathophysiological mechanisms of MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, has been linked to several psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of T. gondii IgG antibodies and risk factors associated with seroprevalence in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. This seroepidemiological study assessed 196 participants, divided into two groups. The study group consisted of 98 schizophrenic patients and was matched with 98 healthy blood donors. A questionnaire was used to gather information regarding potential risk factors associated with T. gondii seroprevalence. Results revealed a higher seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG antibodies in schizophrenic patients (69.39%, 68/98) when compared to healthy controls (51.02%, 50/98) (OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.21–3.9; p = 0.01). Patients with schizophrenia who consumed raw or undercooked meat (80.65%, 25/31) (OR: 3.75; 95% CI: 1.25–11.21, p = 0.02) and those with a lower educational level (77.59%, 45/58) (OR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.59–7.54, p = 0.002) presented increased T. gondii seropositivity rates versus their control counterparts. Our findings indicate a high T. gondii IgG seroprevalence in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to healthy blood donors. Factors associated with T. gondii seroprevalence were consumption of raw or uncooked meat and a lower educational attainment. This study provided the first data regarding the potential risk factors for toxoplasmosis in Romanian patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and may serve as a foundation for future research and the development of preventive strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to screen for IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in the sera of 155 newly diagnosed Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive patients under surveillance in Greek Infectious Disease Units. Additionally, risk factors based on patient demographics were examined, and a comparative evaluation of commercially available serological methods was conducted. Three methods were employed to detect IgG antibodies against T. gondii: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Indirect Immunofluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT), and Western Blot (WB), which was used as a reference here. Forty-nine sera samples were true-positive for IgG antibodies against T. gondii, resulting in a 31.61% positivity rate, and the immunoassay test statistical reliability analysis resulted in higher IFAT accuracy (90.97%) compared to ELISA (76.26%). Furthermore, statistical analysis of demographic and immunological data included in the study placed female and foreign/non-Greek individuals at 2.24 (p = 0.0009) and 2.34 (p = 0.0006) times higher risk of positive T. gondii IgG testing compared to their male and Greek counterparts, respectively. Our findings on positivity rates and comparative serology underscore the importance of early and suitable screening measures for newly diagnosed HIV+ patients to mitigate the life-threatening outcomes that may arise from a potential subsequent T. gondii activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-third of humanity harbors a lifelong infection with Toxoplasma gondii, and probably about 80% are infected with human cytomegalovirus (CMV). This study aims to delineate the associations between toxoplasmosis and cognitive abilities and compare these to the associations with CMV. We evaluated the cognitive performance of 557 students, who had been examined for Toxoplasma and CMV infections, using intelligence, memory, and psychomotor tests. The results indicated cognitive impairments in seropositive individuals for both pathogens, with variations in cognitive impact related to sex and the Rh factor. Specifically, Toxoplasma infection was associated with lower IQ in men, whereas CMV was predominantly associated with worse performance by women when testing memory and reaction speeds. Analysis of the antibody concentrations indicated that certain Toxoplasma-associated cognitive detrimental effects may wane (impaired intelligence) or worsen (impaired reaction times) over time following infection. The findings imply that the cognitive impairments caused by both neurotropic pathogens are likely due to pathological changes in the brain rather than from direct manipulative action by the parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an evaluation of seventeen newly produced recombinant trivalent chimeric proteins (containing the same immunodominant fragment of SAG1 and SAG2 of Toxoplasma gondii antigens, and an additional immunodominant fragment of one of the parasite antigens, such as AMA1, GRA1, GRA2, GRA5, GRA6, GRA7, GRA9, LDH2, MAG1, MIC1, MIC3, P35, and ROP1) as a potential alternative to the whole-cell tachyzoite lysate (TLA) used in the detection of infection in small ruminants. These recombinant proteins, obtained by genetic engineering and molecular biology methods, were tested for their reactivity with specific anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies contained in serum samples of small ruminants (192 samples of sheep serum and 95 samples of goat serum) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The reactivity of six recombinant trivalent chimeric proteins (SAG1-SAG2-GRA5, SAG1-SAG2-GRA9, SAG1-SAG2-MIC1, SAG1-SAG2-MIC3, SAG1-SAG2-P35, and SAG1-SAG2-ROP1) with IgG antibodies generated during T. gondii invasion was comparable to the sensitivity of TLA-based IgG ELISA (100%). The obtained results show a strong correlation with the results obtained for TLA. This suggests that these protein preparations may be a potential alternative to TLA used in commercial tests and could be used to develop a cheaper test for the detection of parasite infection in small ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Toxoplasmosis is considered one of the most common public health troubles. Among these health troubles, toxoplasmosis was recently linked to many neuropsychiatric and behavioral disorders, especially autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in children with ASD. Methods: The study was conducted on 100 children, grouped in two groups; group 1 (patient group) included 50 children with ASD and group 2 (control group) included 50 healthy children. ASD in the patient group was diagnosed according to DSM 5 criteria of ASD. Every child involved in this study underwent a history taking, a clinical examination, and laboratory investigations to detect serum anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies using ELISA. Children of the patient group were further assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale to evaluate the severity of their symptoms. Results: The seroprevalence of IgG among ASD children was highly significant compared to the healthy children. The detected difference between the 2 groups regarding seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies was insignificant. No significant correlation could be demonstrated between Toxoplasma infection and severity of autistic symptoms in the ASD group. Furthermore, the study revealed an increase in anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies in ASD children with positive family history of ASD rather than those with no such history. In addition, an increase in seroprevalence of both anti-Toxoplasma antibodies among children with low socioeconomic standards compared to children with moderate or high standards. Conclusions: The study revealed that the old but not the recent infection with Toxoplasma in children could be linked to their ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In Bulgaria, toxoplasmosis is one of the most common infections in humans but the mediators of the T-cell immune response have not been studied. This study aimed to follow-up on the cytokine profile in some groups of immunocompetent patients with evidence of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis. Methods: T. gondii antibodies IgG, IgM, and IgA in the serum samples were measured by ELISA. Cytokine profile was investigated with commercial kit 13-plex ProcartaPlex™, Invitrogen, suitable for apparatus Luminex 200. RESULTS: We examined cytokine profiles and specific Toxoplasma antibodies in 60 immunocompetent patients divided into 3 groups: pregnant women (N.=31), Patients with lymphadenitis, eye pathology, and fever of unknown origin (N.=17), and Persons examined at their request (N.=12). A statistically significant difference was found when comparing levels of cytokines IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-2, IL-27, IL-4, and IP-10 between the group of pregnant women with acute infection and the group of non-infected pregnant women. In the other two groups of patients, we did not find a statistically significant difference in the values of the investigated cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate lower levels of cytokines related to both Th1 and Th2 in pregnant women with acute toxoplasmosis. In patients from the other two groups, there is substantial production of the cytokines associated with the Th1 cell subset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is caused by protozoan T. gondii. Ophthalmological examination is considered the gold standard for OT diagnosis, and laboratory tests are used for diagnostic confirmation. However, these tests can present different results, which change depending on their basis, on sample type and on patients' clinical alteration. Thus, the aim of the present study is to assess immunodiagnostic and molecular techniques applied in blood, serum and tear fluid to diagnose T. gondii infection in patients seen at an Ophthalmology Clinic. In total, 160 patients were included in the study, 40 of them had OT with active lesions (G1); 40 had OT with healed lesions (G2), 40 had non-toxoplasmic uveitis (G3) and 40 had no ocular alterations (G4). Serum samples were subjected to Immunoenzymatic Assay (ELISA) and to Indirect Immunofluorescence Reaction (IFAT) to search for anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG. Tear fluid samples were analyzed through ELISA for IgA research. All blood and tear fluid samples were subjected to conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) and in a Nested PCR model for T. gondii DNA amplification with targets B1, GRA7 and REP 529. IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii was detected in serum samples from 106 and 15 patients, respectively, when combining ELISA and IFAT results. Anti-T.gondii IgA antibodies were detected in 9.2% of the tear material. Nested PCR with GRA7 target showed higher positivity in blood samples (24.4%); Nested PCR with B1 target showed a higher frequency of positivity in tears (15%). Biological samples of patients with active lesions showed the highest positivity frequencies in all immunodiagnostic assays, as well as in most PCR models. The present results highlighted the need of associating techniques with different fundamentals to confirm OT diagnosis. Furthermore, further tear fluid analyses should be performed to validate this biological material as lesser invasive alternative for the more accurate OT diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Toxoplasmagondii is a parasite that is estimated to infect one-third of the world's population. It is acquired by ingesting contaminated water and food specially undercooked meat, contact with domestic or wild feline feces, and during pregnancy by transplacental transmission. Immunocompetent hosts are usually asymptomatic, and infection will be self-limited, while those patients whose immune system is debilitated by HIV infection, immunosuppressive therapy, long-term steroid treatment, and fetuses infected during gestation will show evidence of systemic activity which is more severe in the central nervous system and eyes due to insufficient immune response caused by their respective blood barriers. Congenital toxoplasmosis has an estimated incidence of 8% in mothers who were seronegative at the beginning of their pregnancy. Infection in the first trimester may result in spontaneous abortion or stillbirth; however, it is estimated that the highest risk for vertical transmission is during the second and third trimesters when blood flow and placenta thickness favor parasitic transmission. Congenital toxoplasmosis can be detected with periodic surveillance in endemic areas, and with appropriate treatment, the risk of vertical transmission can be reduced, and the severity of the disease can be reversed in infected fetuses. While most infected newborns will show no evidence of the disease, those who suffer active intrauterine complications will present with cerebral calcifications in 8–12% of cases, hydrocephalus in 4–30%, and chorioretinitis in 12–15%. Also, seizure disorders, spasticity, and varying degrees of neurocognitive deficits can be found in 12%. Four distinct patterns of hydrocephalus have been described: aqueductal stenosis with lateral and third ventricle dilatation, periforaminal calcifications leading to foramen of Monro stenosis with associated asymmetrical ventricle dilatation, a mix of aqueductal and foramen of Monro stenosis, and overt hydrocephalus without clear evidence of obstruction with predominant dilatation of occipital horns (colpocephaly). While all patients diagnosed with congenital toxoplasmosis should undergo pharmacological treatment, those presenting with hydrocephalus have traditionally been managed with CSF shunting; however, there are reports of at least 50% success when selected cases are treated with endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Successful hydrocephalus management with appropriate treatment leads to better intellectual outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasmosis is a common parasitic disease caused byT oxoplasma gondii, which can cause fetal abnormalities and spontaneous abortions. The prevalence of toxoplasmosis in aborted women in Iraq may vary depending on factors such as geographic location, sample size, and diagnostic methods used. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in aborted women infected with T. gondii in Baghdad Province, and to provide insight into the impact of the disease on reproductive health. Blood samples were collected from 100 women who had experienced previous abortions in Baghdad province. The samples were tested for the presence of T. gondii using the Mini Vidas assay. The overall prevalence of T. gondii infection among aborted women in Baghdad Province. The study also revealed that the highest incidence of abortion was reported among women aged 20 years-29 years (46%), compared to the younger age group (14 years-19 years) where it was recorded at 22%. This study found that Toxoplasmosis was more prevalent in urban women (71%) than rural women (29%). The number of births did not have a significant effect on the prevalence of Toxoplasmosis among the study participants. This study found that the majority of abortions occurred in the first trimester, with 68% of women experiencing abortions during this stage compared to other trimesters. Furthermore, the total number of cases studied, only 6 cases (6%) showed evidence of recent infection with T. gondii (as indicated by seropositivity for IgM antibodies). This suggests that recent infection with the parasite may not be a major contributor to the high rate of abortions observed in the study population. On the other hand, 38 cases (38%) were found to have evidence of past exposure to the parasite (as indicated by seropositivity for IgG antibodies). This suggests that prior exposure to T. gondii may be more common among women who have experienced abortions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women could lead to significant changes during the pregnancy, affect the outcomes of pregnancy and the timing of labour. Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) newborns are defined by birthweight below the 10th percentile for gestational age. We tested an association between latent toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and deliveries of SGA babies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For testing, we included 1,647 women who gave birth to a singleton baby at = 37 weeks of gestation. The complement-fixation test (CFT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests for IgG and IgM were used. The latent form of toxoplasmosis was defined as a CFT titre of 1:8 or higher, together with index positivity IgG ELISA > 1.1 and negative IgM. RESULTS: There were 406 (24.7 %) women positive, and 1,241 (75.3 %) women negative for latent toxoplasmosis. Of all deliveries. 190 were SGA-positive and 1,457 were SGA-negative. Our study found a statistically significant association between latent toxoplasmosis and SGA foetuses born at term. The Pearson chi-square model was statistically significant (?2(1) = 7.365, p = .007). The odds ratio was 1.567. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with latent toxoplasmosis giving birth at ≥ 37 weeks of gestation have a 1.567 times higher risk of delivering an SGA baby (Tab. 2, Fig. 1, Ref. 30). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and purpose Toxoplasmosis, a prevalent parasitic infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii, impacts approximately one-third of the global population. Among congenital infections, Congenital Toxoplasmosis (CT) ranks second only to CMV infection in neonates. The severity of fetal and neonatal clinical manifestations depends on factors such as gestational age during infection, parasite load, infectious strain virulence, and maternal immune status. The organogenesis stage in the second trimester is identified as the critical period (10th-24th gestational weeks). Fetal CT may present with ultrasound-detected abnormalities, including intracranial calcifications, microcephaly, hydrocephalus, ascites, hepatosplenomegaly or severe intrauterine growth restriction. Even in the absence of symptoms at birth, CT can lead to long-term consequences such as hydrocephalus, seizures, and cognitive, auditory, and visual impairments. The aim of this study is to present a clinical case of a patient with CT infection complicated by treatment-resistant hydrocephalus and neurological symptoms, including muscle tone disturbances and seizures. Conclusion The significance of screening tests cannot be overstated, as early intervention is crucial to prevent enduring complications. Routine counseling for pregnant women is imperative to raise awareness about Toxoplasma gondii infection, empowering them to adopt necessary preventive measures. Additionally, further research is warranted to assess the efficacy of diverse treatment protocols, the risk of adverse effects, and the effectiveness of emerging therapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Congenital toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by the transmission of the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii during pregnancy that can potentially cause severe consequences for the fetus or neonates. The disease disproportionately impacts the global population and is generally correlated with the Human Development Index. Despite its prevalence, there are knowledge gaps among pregnant women and healthcare providers regarding the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition. This narrative review aimed to examine the current state of knowledge of toxoplasmosis among both groups, with a focus on exploring the Brazilian and global perspectives and highlighting opportunities for enhancing education and communication. A search was conducted across five databases, and 60 studies were selected (23 in Brazil and 37 worldwide). Quantitative analysis revealed that general knowledge of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women is notably poor, with 66% of Brazilian women and 72% of women worldwide lacking sufficient understanding. Among those with some knowledge, the most recognized association is with cats (46% in Brazil and 38% worldwide), followed by raw or undercooked meat (27% in Brazil and 25% worldwide), and improperly sanitized vegetables or water (15% in Brazil and 21% worldwide). Similarly, gaps in knowledge were found among healthcare providers. Difficulty with IgG avidity test interpretation is higher in Brazil (43%) compared to worldwide (18%). The most recognized association is with cats (66% in Brazil and 74% worldwide), followed by raw or undercooked meat (49% in Brazil and 70% worldwide), and improperly sanitized vegetables or water (31% in Brazil and 32% worldwide). These findings emphasize the need for tailored local and global public health educational initiatives to enhance knowledge of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women and healthcare providers.