Spread of Toxoplasma gondii among animals and humans in Northern Italy: A retrospective analysis in a One-Health framework
Toxoplasmosis occurs worldwide and is considered one of the most important food-borne parasitic zoonoses. The consumption of undercooked meat containing viable tissue cysts and ingestion of environmental oocyst are the most important sources of infection. The aim of this retrospective study was to e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Food and Waterborne Parasitology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405676623000100 |
| _version_ | 1797688382970658816 |
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| author | F.M. Dini S. Morselli A. Marangoni R. Taddei G. Maioli G. Roncarati A. Balboni F. Dondi F. Lunetta R. Galuppi |
| author_facet | F.M. Dini S. Morselli A. Marangoni R. Taddei G. Maioli G. Roncarati A. Balboni F. Dondi F. Lunetta R. Galuppi |
| author_sort | F.M. Dini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Toxoplasmosis occurs worldwide and is considered one of the most important food-borne parasitic zoonoses. The consumption of undercooked meat containing viable tissue cysts and ingestion of environmental oocyst are the most important sources of infection. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the spread of Toxoplasma gondii in the province of Bologna (Emilia-Romagna region) in northern Italy, with a One Health approach, comparing seropositivity rates in different animal species and in humans over the last 19 and 4 years respectively. Analyses were performed on serological data collected over different periods at three separate locations: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e della Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER); Veterinary University Hospital Clinical Pathology Service, Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna; and Unit of Microbiology, St. Orsola Hospital, Bologna. Most relevant seropositivity rates observed in animals were 15.5% (wild boar), 25% (roe deer), 18.7% (goat), 29.9% (sheep), 9.7% (pigs), 42.9% and 21.8% in cat and dog, respectively. A comprehensive screening was conducted on a population of 36,814 individuals, revealing a prevalence of 20.4%. Among pregnant women, a frequence of 0.39% for active toxoplasmosis was observed. Despite certain limitations, this study provided valuable insights into the extensive distribution of this parasitic infection among diverse animal species and human populations in the province of Bologna. These findings underscore the importance of implementing consistent and proactive toxoplasmosis screening protocols during pregnancy, while emphasizing the critical need for adopting a One Health approach for effective control of this parasitic disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:30:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ff52c0efcf784a51b9edcb100d87d24c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-6766 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:30:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Food and Waterborne Parasitology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ff52c0efcf784a51b9edcb100d87d24c2023-09-12T04:16:14ZengElsevierFood and Waterborne Parasitology2405-67662023-09-0132e00197Spread of Toxoplasma gondii among animals and humans in Northern Italy: A retrospective analysis in a One-Health frameworkF.M. Dini0S. Morselli1A. Marangoni2R. Taddei3G. Maioli4G. Roncarati5A. Balboni6F. Dondi7F. Lunetta8R. Galuppi9Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy; Corresponding author at: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy.Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Lombardia e della Emilia-Romagna, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Lombardia e della Emilia-Romagna, ItalyMicrobiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, ItalyToxoplasmosis occurs worldwide and is considered one of the most important food-borne parasitic zoonoses. The consumption of undercooked meat containing viable tissue cysts and ingestion of environmental oocyst are the most important sources of infection. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the spread of Toxoplasma gondii in the province of Bologna (Emilia-Romagna region) in northern Italy, with a One Health approach, comparing seropositivity rates in different animal species and in humans over the last 19 and 4 years respectively. Analyses were performed on serological data collected over different periods at three separate locations: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e della Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER); Veterinary University Hospital Clinical Pathology Service, Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna; and Unit of Microbiology, St. Orsola Hospital, Bologna. Most relevant seropositivity rates observed in animals were 15.5% (wild boar), 25% (roe deer), 18.7% (goat), 29.9% (sheep), 9.7% (pigs), 42.9% and 21.8% in cat and dog, respectively. A comprehensive screening was conducted on a population of 36,814 individuals, revealing a prevalence of 20.4%. Among pregnant women, a frequence of 0.39% for active toxoplasmosis was observed. Despite certain limitations, this study provided valuable insights into the extensive distribution of this parasitic infection among diverse animal species and human populations in the province of Bologna. These findings underscore the importance of implementing consistent and proactive toxoplasmosis screening protocols during pregnancy, while emphasizing the critical need for adopting a One Health approach for effective control of this parasitic disease.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405676623000100ToxoplasmosisEpidemiologyHumansAnimalsEmilia-Romagna regionSerology |
| spellingShingle | F.M. Dini S. Morselli A. Marangoni R. Taddei G. Maioli G. Roncarati A. Balboni F. Dondi F. Lunetta R. Galuppi Spread of Toxoplasma gondii among animals and humans in Northern Italy: A retrospective analysis in a One-Health framework Food and Waterborne Parasitology Toxoplasmosis Epidemiology Humans Animals Emilia-Romagna region Serology |
| title | Spread of Toxoplasma gondii among animals and humans in Northern Italy: A retrospective analysis in a One-Health framework |
| title_full | Spread of Toxoplasma gondii among animals and humans in Northern Italy: A retrospective analysis in a One-Health framework |
| title_fullStr | Spread of Toxoplasma gondii among animals and humans in Northern Italy: A retrospective analysis in a One-Health framework |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spread of Toxoplasma gondii among animals and humans in Northern Italy: A retrospective analysis in a One-Health framework |
| title_short | Spread of Toxoplasma gondii among animals and humans in Northern Italy: A retrospective analysis in a One-Health framework |
| title_sort | spread of toxoplasma gondii among animals and humans in northern italy a retrospective analysis in a one health framework |
| topic | Toxoplasmosis Epidemiology Humans Animals Emilia-Romagna region Serology |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405676623000100 |
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