Quantitative Risk Assessment of Oocyst Versus Bradyzoite Foodborne Transmission of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Brazil
<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> is a globally distributed zoonotic protozoan parasite. Infection with <i>T. gondii</i> can cause congenital toxoplasmosis in developing fetuses and acute outbreaks in the general population, and the disease burden is especially high in South America....
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/7/870 |
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| author | Sophie Zhu Elizabeth VanWormer Beatriz Martínez-López Lílian Maria Garcia Bahia-Oliveira Renato Augusto DaMatta Pedro Souto Rodrigues Karen Shapiro |
| author_facet | Sophie Zhu Elizabeth VanWormer Beatriz Martínez-López Lílian Maria Garcia Bahia-Oliveira Renato Augusto DaMatta Pedro Souto Rodrigues Karen Shapiro |
| author_sort | Sophie Zhu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> is a globally distributed zoonotic protozoan parasite. Infection with <i>T. gondii</i> can cause congenital toxoplasmosis in developing fetuses and acute outbreaks in the general population, and the disease burden is especially high in South America. Prior studies found that the environmental stage of <i>T. gondii</i>, oocysts, is an important source of infection in Brazil; however, no studies have quantified this risk relative to other parasite stages. We developed a Bayesian quantitative risk assessment (QRA) to estimate the relative attribution of the two primary parasite stages (bradyzoite and oocyst) that can be transmitted in foods to people in Brazil. Oocyst contamination in fruits and greens contributed significantly more to overall estimated <i>T. gondii</i> infections than bradyzoite-contaminated foods (beef, pork, poultry). In sensitivity analysis, treatment, i.e., cooking temperature for meat and washing efficiency for produce, most strongly affected the estimated toxoplasmosis incidence rate. Due to the lack of regional food contamination prevalence data and the high level of uncertainty in many model parameters, this analysis provides an initial estimate of the relative importance of food products. Important knowledge gaps for oocyst-borne infections were identified and can drive future studies to improve risk assessments and effective policy actions to reduce human toxoplasmosis in Brazil. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:44:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-784b44b4279a4a129c59e4a005c4fe5a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:44:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-784b44b4279a4a129c59e4a005c4fe5a2023-11-18T20:50:09ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172023-06-0112787010.3390/pathogens12070870Quantitative Risk Assessment of Oocyst Versus Bradyzoite Foodborne Transmission of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in BrazilSophie Zhu0Elizabeth VanWormer1Beatriz Martínez-López2Lílian Maria Garcia Bahia-Oliveira3Renato Augusto DaMatta4Pedro Souto Rodrigues5Karen Shapiro6Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USASchool of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USADepartment of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USADepartment of Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé 27930-560, BrazilLaboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro 28013-602, BrazilLaboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro 28013-602, BrazilDepartment of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> is a globally distributed zoonotic protozoan parasite. Infection with <i>T. gondii</i> can cause congenital toxoplasmosis in developing fetuses and acute outbreaks in the general population, and the disease burden is especially high in South America. Prior studies found that the environmental stage of <i>T. gondii</i>, oocysts, is an important source of infection in Brazil; however, no studies have quantified this risk relative to other parasite stages. We developed a Bayesian quantitative risk assessment (QRA) to estimate the relative attribution of the two primary parasite stages (bradyzoite and oocyst) that can be transmitted in foods to people in Brazil. Oocyst contamination in fruits and greens contributed significantly more to overall estimated <i>T. gondii</i> infections than bradyzoite-contaminated foods (beef, pork, poultry). In sensitivity analysis, treatment, i.e., cooking temperature for meat and washing efficiency for produce, most strongly affected the estimated toxoplasmosis incidence rate. Due to the lack of regional food contamination prevalence data and the high level of uncertainty in many model parameters, this analysis provides an initial estimate of the relative importance of food products. Important knowledge gaps for oocyst-borne infections were identified and can drive future studies to improve risk assessments and effective policy actions to reduce human toxoplasmosis in Brazil.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/7/870quantitative risk assessmentfoodborne pathogenoocyst<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>bradyzoite |
| spellingShingle | Sophie Zhu Elizabeth VanWormer Beatriz Martínez-López Lílian Maria Garcia Bahia-Oliveira Renato Augusto DaMatta Pedro Souto Rodrigues Karen Shapiro Quantitative Risk Assessment of Oocyst Versus Bradyzoite Foodborne Transmission of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Brazil Pathogens quantitative risk assessment foodborne pathogen oocyst <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> bradyzoite |
| title | Quantitative Risk Assessment of Oocyst Versus Bradyzoite Foodborne Transmission of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Brazil |
| title_full | Quantitative Risk Assessment of Oocyst Versus Bradyzoite Foodborne Transmission of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Quantitative Risk Assessment of Oocyst Versus Bradyzoite Foodborne Transmission of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantitative Risk Assessment of Oocyst Versus Bradyzoite Foodborne Transmission of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Brazil |
| title_short | Quantitative Risk Assessment of Oocyst Versus Bradyzoite Foodborne Transmission of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Brazil |
| title_sort | quantitative risk assessment of oocyst versus bradyzoite foodborne transmission of i toxoplasma gondii i in brazil |
| topic | quantitative risk assessment foodborne pathogen oocyst <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> bradyzoite |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/7/870 |
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