Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infections among high-risk populations in Changzhou City / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To understand the prevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infections among high-risk populations in Changzhou City, so as to provide the scientific basis for formulating effective control measures of toxoplasmosis. MethodsFour types of high-risk populations living in Changzhou City were recruited from 2016 to 2018 as the study subjects, including HIV/AIDS patients, cancer patients, pregnant women and livestock and poultry breeding or processing workers. Each subject was investigated for the knowledge on knowledge, attitude and practice of toxoplasmosis prevention and control. In addition, serum specific IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii were detected, and the risk factors of T. gondii infections were identified. Results A total of 900 participants at high risk of T. gondii infections were investigated in Changzhou City from 2016 to 2018, including 150 HIV/AIDS patients, 250 cancer patients, 250 pregnant women and 250 livestock and poultry breeding or processing workers. The overall awareness rate of toxoplasmosis prevention and control knowledge was 16.8% (151/900), and the awareness rate was significantly greater in women than in men (χ2 = 41.34, P < 0.05). The awareness rate of toxoplasmosis prevention and control reduced with ages (χ2 = 147.78, P < 0.05), and increased with the education level (χ2 = 166.42, P < 0.05). In ad dition, there was an occupation-specific awareness rate of toxoplasmosis prevention and control (χ2 = 92.26, P < 0.05), and the highest awareness rate was seen in cadres and staff (47.2%, 34/72). Among all high-risk populations, 34.6% (311/900) had fre- quent contacts with cats/dogs, 40.4% (364/900) raised cats/dogs at home, 0.9% (8/900) ate raw meat, and 15.8% (142/900) sepa- rated chopping boards for raw and cooked food. Among the participants aware of toxoplasmosis prevention and control knowledge, 24.5% (37/151) contacted cats/dogs frequently, which was significantly lower than those not aware of toxoplasmosis prevention and control knowledge (36.6%, 274/749) (χ2 = 8.11, P < 0.05), and 35.1% (53/151) separated chopping boards for raw and cooked food, which was significantly higher than those not aware of toxoplasmosis prevention and control knowledge (11.9%, 89/749) (χ2 = 50.97, P < 0.05). The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii infections was 11.0% (99/900), and the positive rates of IgG antibodies against T. gondii were 6.0%, 13.9%, 4.8% and 17.3% in HIV/AIDS patients, livestock and poultry breeding or processing workers, pregnant women and cancer patients, respectively (χ2 = 25.87, P < 0.05). A higher seroprevalence of T. gon- dii infection was seen in men than in women (χ2 = 8.88, P < 0.05), and the seroprevalence increased with ages (χ2 = 37.03, P < 0.05) and reduced with education levels (χ2 = 25.07, P < 0.05). There was an occupation-specific seroprevalence of T. gondii in- fection (χ2 = 22.09, P < 0.05), and the highest seroprevalence was detected in peasants (57/330, 17.3%). Conclusions The awareness of toxoplasmosis prevention and control knowledge is low among high-risk populations in Changzhou City. Health edu- cation pertaining to toxoplasmosis prevention and control requires to be strengthened in cancer patients and livestock and poultry breeding or processing workers who have a high seroprevalence of T. gondii infections, so as to change the poor behavior styles.