Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among veterinary staff in Ontario, Canada (2002): Implications for teratogenic risk

BMC Infectious Diseases

Adrienne Einarson¹  Offie Porat Soldin¹  Thomas R Einarson¹  Rada Boskovic¹  Gideon Koren¹  Samar Shuhaiber¹ 

[1] The Motherisk Program, Division of Clinical Pharmacology/ Toxicology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canade

关键词: Canada;    veterinary staff;    infection;    Toxoplasma gondii;    toxoplasmosis;    seroprevalence;   

Others  :  1177130
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2334-3-8

 received in 2003-02-05, accepted in 2003-05-23,  发布年份 2003

【 摘 要 】

Background

Toxoplasma gondii infection is embryotoxic in humans. It is mainly transmitted through raw/undercooked meat and ingestion of oocysts in cat feces. There remains controversy about the actual risk of cats transmitting the disease to humans. Our primary objective was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibody among veterinary staff, to ascertain whether they have an increased risk through occupational exposure. Our secondary objective was to examine their practices regarding cats, toxoplasma infection, and pregnancy.

Methods

Veterinary staff attending the 2002 Annual Ontario Veterinary Medical Association Conference were invited to discuss their toxoplasma seroprevalence. Interested attendees completed a questionnaire and a physician drew blood samples to determine T. gondii titres using the ELISA IgG test.

Results

We collected 161 completed questionnaires, and 141 blood samples. There were 20 (14.2%, CI95%:8.4–19.9%) reactive titres among the veterinarian staff (80% females aged 30–45). All were regularly exposed to cats, washed their hands when in contact and few wore gloves routinely.

Conclusions

These findings of low positive rates may be used to reassure veterinary staff that their exposure to cats does not appear to increase their risk of contracting toxoplasma infection and that pregnant women are not at an increased risk by owning a cat.

【 授权许可】

   
2003 Shuhaiber et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original URL.

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