<I>Toxoplasma gondii</I> seroprevalence studies on humans and animals in Africa
Background: Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which can infect nearly all mammalian and avian species. Approximately 25% of the global human population is thought to be infected. Interest in toxoplasmosis has surged since it was discovered that with the onset of acquired immune...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2014-05-01
|
| Series: | South African Family Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/3843 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1839581923835379712 |
|---|---|
| author | K. Hammond-Aryee M. Esser P.D. van Helden |
| author_facet | K. Hammond-Aryee M. Esser P.D. van Helden |
| author_sort | K. Hammond-Aryee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which can infect nearly all mammalian and avian species. Approximately 25% of the global human population is thought to be infected. Interest in toxoplasmosis has surged since it was discovered that with the onset of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, acute toxoplasmosis could induce cranial calcification. The ensuing encephalitis can be fatal. The African human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, increasing levels of other immunosuppressive infections (such as tuberculosis), poor sanitation practices and lack of monitoring of at-risk populations point to a predicament that may be underrated.
Objective: The objective was to review the available body of research on the seroepidemiology of T. gondii in Africa, in order to establish existing prevalence trends and to draw attention to available information on the pathogen in Africa.
Method: The National Center for Biotechnology Information, Google Scholar and ToxoDB databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles that focus specifically on seroprevalence studies of T. gondii in Africa up until the 2012 year end.
Results: Seroprevalence rates on the continent are high in humans and animals. There is a geographical trend of decreasing seroprevalence from the northern to the southern, and from the western to the eastern, regions of the continent. Most seroprevalence studies on humans were reported between 1981 and 2000.
Conclusion: There is a need for further and more consolidated information on the prevalence of T. gondii in Africa, in order to address morbidity and mortality from opportunistic but treatable diseases, such as toxoplasmosis in the ongoing HIV pandemic, and to improve the lives of the African population. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-413580180ab64a6aad0b51e0cb1b8801 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2078-6190 2078-6204 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2014-05-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-413580180ab64a6aad0b51e0cb1b88012025-08-04T09:23:39ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042014-05-0156210.1080/20786204.2014.108553494500<I>Toxoplasma gondii</I> seroprevalence studies on humans and animals in AfricaK. Hammond-Aryee0M. Esser1P.D. van Helden2Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Stellenbosch UniversityDivision Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Stellenbosch University; and, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Tygerberg HospitalDivision of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Stellenbosch UniversityBackground: Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which can infect nearly all mammalian and avian species. Approximately 25% of the global human population is thought to be infected. Interest in toxoplasmosis has surged since it was discovered that with the onset of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, acute toxoplasmosis could induce cranial calcification. The ensuing encephalitis can be fatal. The African human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, increasing levels of other immunosuppressive infections (such as tuberculosis), poor sanitation practices and lack of monitoring of at-risk populations point to a predicament that may be underrated. Objective: The objective was to review the available body of research on the seroepidemiology of T. gondii in Africa, in order to establish existing prevalence trends and to draw attention to available information on the pathogen in Africa. Method: The National Center for Biotechnology Information, Google Scholar and ToxoDB databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles that focus specifically on seroprevalence studies of T. gondii in Africa up until the 2012 year end. Results: Seroprevalence rates on the continent are high in humans and animals. There is a geographical trend of decreasing seroprevalence from the northern to the southern, and from the western to the eastern, regions of the continent. Most seroprevalence studies on humans were reported between 1981 and 2000. Conclusion: There is a need for further and more consolidated information on the prevalence of T. gondii in Africa, in order to address morbidity and mortality from opportunistic but treatable diseases, such as toxoplasmosis in the ongoing HIV pandemic, and to improve the lives of the African population.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/3843toxoplasma gondiitoxoplasmosissero-prevalencedisease burdenafrica |
| spellingShingle | K. Hammond-Aryee M. Esser P.D. van Helden <I>Toxoplasma gondii</I> seroprevalence studies on humans and animals in Africa South African Family Practice toxoplasma gondii toxoplasmosis sero-prevalence disease burden africa |
| title | <I>Toxoplasma gondii</I> seroprevalence studies on humans and animals in Africa |
| title_full | <I>Toxoplasma gondii</I> seroprevalence studies on humans and animals in Africa |
| title_fullStr | <I>Toxoplasma gondii</I> seroprevalence studies on humans and animals in Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | <I>Toxoplasma gondii</I> seroprevalence studies on humans and animals in Africa |
| title_short | <I>Toxoplasma gondii</I> seroprevalence studies on humans and animals in Africa |
| title_sort | i toxoplasma gondii i seroprevalence studies on humans and animals in africa |
| topic | toxoplasma gondii toxoplasmosis sero-prevalence disease burden africa |
| url | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/3843 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT khammondaryee itoxoplasmagondiiiseroprevalencestudiesonhumansandanimalsinafrica AT messer itoxoplasmagondiiiseroprevalencestudiesonhumansandanimalsinafrica AT pdvanhelden itoxoplasmagondiiiseroprevalencestudiesonhumansandanimalsinafrica |