Risk factors for acute toxoplasmosis in the Netherlands

Abstract Toxoplasmosis caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii occurs worldwide. Infections range from asymptomatic to life-threatening. T. gondii infection is acquired either via bradyzoites in meat or via oocysts in the environment, but the relative importance of these path ways and the different sources remains unclear. In this study, possible risk factors for toxoplasmosis in the Netherlands were investigated. A case–control study was conducted including persons with recent infection and individuals with a negative test result for IgM and IgG for T. gondii between July 2016 and... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Friesema, Ingrid H. M.
Hofhuis, Agnetha
Hoek-van Deursen, Denise
Jansz, Arjan R.
Ott, Alewijn
van Hellemond, Jaap J.
van der Giessen, Joke
Kortbeek, Laetitia M.
Opsteegh, Marieke
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Erscheinungsdatum: 2023
Reihe/Periodikum: Epidemiology and Infection ; volume 151 ; ISSN 0950-2688 1469-4409
Verlag/Hrsg.: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Schlagwörter: Infectious Diseases / Epidemiology
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-26850096
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0950268823000808

Abstract Toxoplasmosis caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii occurs worldwide. Infections range from asymptomatic to life-threatening. T. gondii infection is acquired either via bradyzoites in meat or via oocysts in the environment, but the relative importance of these path ways and the different sources remains unclear. In this study, possible risk factors for toxoplasmosis in the Netherlands were investigated. A case–control study was conducted including persons with recent infection and individuals with a negative test result for IgM and IgG for T. gondii between July 2016 and April 2021. A total of 48 cases and 50 controls completed the questionnaire. Food history and environmental exposure were compared using logistic regression. Consumption of different meats was found to be associated with recent infection. In the multivariable model, adjusted for age, gender, and pregnancy, consumption of large game meat (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 8.2, 95% confidence interval 1.6–41.9) and sometimes (aOR 4.1, 1.1–15.3) or never (aOR 15.9, 2.2–115.5) washing hands before food preparation remained. These results emphasize the value of the advice to be careful with the consumption of raw and undercooked meat. Good hand hygiene could also be promoted in the prevention of T. gondii infection.