ABSTRACT
This survey aimed to estimate the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies in people living in north west Tuscany (central Italy) and to investigate the adherence to antenatal screening programs and access to the Toxo-test as well. Sera from a large sample of individuals suspected to have acute infection or from pregnant women (10,352 subjects) aged between 1 day and over 70 years were analysed for both IgG and IgM anti-Toxoplasma antibodies using an immunoenzymatic method or a chemo-luminescent immunoassay. Overall, the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies was 21.4% (95% CI 20.62-22.20). A positive trend according to age was found, with low positivity observed in younger age groups. Among women of reproductive age the prevalence of IgG antibodies was 19.4% (95% CI 18.64-20.26). The overall IgM seroprevalence was 1.07% (95% CI 0.87-1.27). A low IgM prevalence was also observed in women of reproductive age (0.8%; 95% CI 0.65-1.03). Our study seems to indicate that primary prevention is widespread among women. However, an epidemiological surveillance system for toxoplasmosis should be implemented, to assess the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis and to determine the true burden of disease in adults.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Toxoplasma/immunology , Toxoplasmosis/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Immunoassay/methods , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Immunoglobulin M/blood , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Italy/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Young AdultABSTRACT
Th2 responses seem to play an important role in defence against Trichinella spiralis (Ts). The neutrophil Activating protein of Helicobacter pylori (HP-NAP), that induces IL-12, and IL-23 expression and shifts to Th1 allergen-specific Th2 cells in vitro was used as an anti-Th2 agent in BALB/c mice infected with T. spiralis. The muscle larvae (ML) burden was lower (p < 0.02) in untreated infected animals than those infected treated with HP-NAP. In both groups there was an inverse relationship between ML burden of each animal and total IgE level (controls: r -0.617, p = 0.0013 and HP-NAP-treated: r -0.678, p = 0.0001) or eosinophil count, evaluated in the same mouse on day 42 (r -0.390, p = 0.0592 and r -0.803, p = 0.0001, respectively). Inflammatory response around the nurse cell-parasite complex was significantly higher in HP-NAP-treated infected animals than in those untreated infected, on the contrary the number of eosinophils, counted around each complex was significantly lower in the first animal group. This study provides evidence of a powerful anti-Th2 activity in vivo by HP-NAP and for the partial protective effect of Th2 responses in T. spiralis infection.
