Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern China
Abstract Background There is accumulating evidence for an increased susceptibility to infection in patients with arthritis. We sought to understand the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern China, given the paucity of data on the magnitude of T. gondii infectio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-10-01
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| Series: | Infectious Diseases of Poverty |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40249-017-0367-2 |
| _version_ | 1811281333037563904 |
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| author | Ai-Ling Tian Yuan-Lin Gu Na Zhou Wei Cong Guang-Xing Li Hany M. Elsheikha Xing-Quan Zhu |
| author_facet | Ai-Ling Tian Yuan-Lin Gu Na Zhou Wei Cong Guang-Xing Li Hany M. Elsheikha Xing-Quan Zhu |
| author_sort | Ai-Ling Tian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There is accumulating evidence for an increased susceptibility to infection in patients with arthritis. We sought to understand the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern China, given the paucity of data on the magnitude of T. gondii infection in these patients. Methods Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a crude antigen of the parasite in 820 arthritic patients, and an equal number of healthy controls, from Qingdao and Weihai cities, eastern China. Sociodemographic, clinical and lifestyle information on the study participants were also obtained. Results The prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG was significantly higher in arthritic patients (18.8%) compared with 12% in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Twelve patients with arthritis had anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies – comparable with 10 control patients (1.5% vs 1.2%). Demographic factors did not significantly influence these seroprevalence frequencies. The highest T. gondii infection seropositivity rate was detected in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (24.8%), followed by reactive arthritis (23.8%), osteoarthritis (19%), infectious arthritis (18.4%) and gouty arthritis (14.8%). Seroprevalence rates of rheumatoid arthritis and reactive arthritis were significantly higher when compared with controls (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). A significant association was detected between T. gondii infection and cats being present in the home in arthritic patients (odds ratio [OR], 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24 – 2.28; P = 0.001). Conclusions These findings are consistent with and extend previous results, providing further evidence to support a link between contact with cats and an increased risk of T. gondii infection. Our study is also the first to confirm an association between T. gondii infection and arthritis patients in China. Implications for better prevention and control of T. gondii infection in arthritis patients are discussed. Trial registration This is an epidemiological survey, therefore trial registration was not required. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T01:31:47Z |
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| id | doaj.art-29f1411245a54a3caca1924ce6c1642f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2049-9957 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T01:31:47Z |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Infectious Diseases of Poverty |
| spelling | doaj.art-29f1411245a54a3caca1924ce6c1642f2022-12-22T03:08:29ZengBMCInfectious Diseases of Poverty2049-99572017-10-01611710.1186/s40249-017-0367-2Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern ChinaAi-Ling Tian0Yuan-Lin Gu1Na Zhou2Wei Cong3Guang-Xing Li4Hany M. Elsheikha5Xing-Quan Zhu6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesWeihaiwei People’s HospitalAffilliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao UniversityState Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesState Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of NottinghamState Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesAbstract Background There is accumulating evidence for an increased susceptibility to infection in patients with arthritis. We sought to understand the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern China, given the paucity of data on the magnitude of T. gondii infection in these patients. Methods Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a crude antigen of the parasite in 820 arthritic patients, and an equal number of healthy controls, from Qingdao and Weihai cities, eastern China. Sociodemographic, clinical and lifestyle information on the study participants were also obtained. Results The prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG was significantly higher in arthritic patients (18.8%) compared with 12% in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Twelve patients with arthritis had anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies – comparable with 10 control patients (1.5% vs 1.2%). Demographic factors did not significantly influence these seroprevalence frequencies. The highest T. gondii infection seropositivity rate was detected in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (24.8%), followed by reactive arthritis (23.8%), osteoarthritis (19%), infectious arthritis (18.4%) and gouty arthritis (14.8%). Seroprevalence rates of rheumatoid arthritis and reactive arthritis were significantly higher when compared with controls (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). A significant association was detected between T. gondii infection and cats being present in the home in arthritic patients (odds ratio [OR], 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24 – 2.28; P = 0.001). Conclusions These findings are consistent with and extend previous results, providing further evidence to support a link between contact with cats and an increased risk of T. gondii infection. Our study is also the first to confirm an association between T. gondii infection and arthritis patients in China. Implications for better prevention and control of T. gondii infection in arthritis patients are discussed. Trial registration This is an epidemiological survey, therefore trial registration was not required.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40249-017-0367-2Toxoplasma gondiiAutoimmunityArthritisSeroprevalenceRisk factors |
| spellingShingle | Ai-Ling Tian Yuan-Lin Gu Na Zhou Wei Cong Guang-Xing Li Hany M. Elsheikha Xing-Quan Zhu Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern China Infectious Diseases of Poverty Toxoplasma gondii Autoimmunity Arthritis Seroprevalence Risk factors |
| title | Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern China |
| title_full | Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern China |
| title_fullStr | Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern China |
| title_short | Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern China |
| title_sort | seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern china |
| topic | Toxoplasma gondii Autoimmunity Arthritis Seroprevalence Risk factors |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40249-017-0367-2 |
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