Evolutionary puzzle of Toxoplasma gondii with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts: An updated systematic review and meta‐analysis

The World Health Organization has reported an annual global suicide rate of 14.5 per 100,000 people. On the other hand, it is estimated that approximately one‐third of the global population are infected with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) parasite. It is widely assumed that microbial pathogens, such as T. gondii, are probably associated with affective and behavioural modulation. The present article aimed to assess the proposed role of toxoplasmosis in raising the risk of suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SA) using the available epidemiological data. Seven major electronic databases and the Internet search engine Google were searched for all the studies published between the 1st of January 1950 and 31st of October 2019. The heterogeneity and the risk of bias within and across studies were assessed. Following data extraction, pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) across studies were calculated using the random‐effects models. A total number of 9,696 articles were screened and 27 studies were regarded as eligible in our systematic review (SI with five papers and 22 papers on SA). A significant association was detected between antibodies against T. gondii with TA (ORs = 1.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23–2.00, p = .000). Exploration of the association between T. gondii and SA yielded a positive effect of seropositivity for IgG antibodies but not IgM. Despite the limited number of studies, a statistical association was detected between suicidal behaviours and infection with latent T. gondii.     

A prospective study of Toxoplasma-positive pregnant women in southern Brazil: a health alert

We evaluated anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM-reactive pregnant women seen at a high-risk pregnancy outpatient clinic. From March 2005 to January 2008 in Paraná, Brazil, pregnant women seen by the Brazilian Public Health System, in any gestational period, who were anti-T. gondii IgM-positive, were followed. Clinical symptoms were noted, and tests performed including IgA, IgG avidity, ultrasonogram, and amniocentesis (PCR/inoculation in mice). Of 75 patients, 8 showed low, 3 intermediate and 31 high IgG avidity. Of those who underwent the avidity test, 31 (70.5%) were in the second trimester of pregnancy. Thirty-two (42.7%) pregnant women received specific treatment. Six received triple combination treatment; in three, tachyzoites were isolated, although only one was PCR-positive, showing changes in the cerebral sonogram, borderline IgA, and the Sabin tetrad. One fetus died, and one non-reactive IgM pregnant woman showed ocular recurrence. The municipality of residence, contact with cats during adulthood, and ingestion of unpasteurized milk were shown to be important risk factors. Congenital toxoplasmosis was observed in a pregnancy referred late for treatment. Follow-up of children born to mothers with diagnosed or suspected acute toxoplasmosis is crucial in the management of the changes that toxoplasmosis may cause.     

TSo联合IFN-γ鼻内免疫小鼠诱导的弓形虫IgA抗体特异性免疫应答

目的研究速殖子超声裂解物(TSo)和IFN-γ鼻内免疫小鼠经口感染弓形虫速殖子后,血清、小肠液和粪便IgA抗体分泌的动态变化。方法将6～7周龄BALB/c小鼠100只随机分为4组,每组25只,分别用10μl缓冲液PBS、20μgTSo、500UIFN-γ和20μgTSo 500UIFN-γ鼻内免疫小鼠。用RH株弓形虫速殖子4×104个/只灌胃攻击,分别于攻击后第7、10、13、16、19天处死小鼠,收集血清、小肠液及粪便,ELISA法测定IgA含量。结果各组血清IgA抗体水平在攻击后第10天达到峰值,TSo IFN-γ组血清IgA抗体含量高于其他各组。小肠液和粪便IgA抗体含量在攻击后第13天达到峰值,在实验期各时点TSo IFN-γ组小肠液和粪便IgA抗体含量高于其他组。小肠液与粪便IgA抗体水平呈正相关。结论TSo或IFN-γ或TSo联合IFN-γ鼻内免疫小鼠可诱导黏膜免疫,产生高水平的弓形虫特异性IgA抗体。TSo联合IFN-γ鼻内免疫优于单独免疫,免疫小鼠肠道产生大量SIgA,发挥抗虫作用。鼻黏膜免疫是一种安全有效的免疫接种途径。     

VB环境下刚地弓形虫多媒体课件的开发

目的 利用Visual Basic(VB）开发刚地弓形虫多媒体教学课件，探索VB环境下课件开发技术。方法 依据本科教学大纲的要求收集相关文本、图像、影音资料，撰写软件脚本。将所收集资料数据化并予以加工。在Windows98和B5.0(SP3）环境下进行软件的设计、编译与调试。结果 开发出了一套集文本、图像、动画、音频、视频于一体、符合教学需要的交互式多媒体课件。结论 VB可较好地应用于人体寄生虫学等基础医学课程多媒体课件的开发。     

Isolation and characterization of a monoclonal anti-P30 antibody resistant mutant of Toxoplasma gondii

Of the possible iodine-labelled Toxoplasma gondii surface proteins, P30 (apparent Mr 30,000) is the principal one recognized by acute and convalescent anti-toxoplasma sera. This protein which comprises from 3 to 5% of the total parasite protein was used to raise a panel of parasiticidal monoclonal anti-P30 antibodies. One of these monoclonal antibodies was able to select a resistant mutant from a large population of chemically mutagenized wild-type P strain parasites. This mutant retained the wild type sensitivity to other non-P30 parasiticidal monoclonal antibodies as well as polyclonal anti-P30 rabbit sera. Analysis of surface radioiodinated wild type and mutant parasites showed that the mutant had a quantitative reduction in the amount of P30. A comparison of surface biotin labelled wild type and resistant parasites by two dimensional electrophoresis showed that the mutant lacked one and possibly two of several proteins that make up wild type P30. Western blot analysis indicated that the mutant was devoid of antigenically reactive P30. These findings further support the hypothesis that antigenic variants of T. gondii can be induced and may involve the major surface membrane antigens of the parasite.     

山东省德州地区已婚育龄妇女弓形虫筛查状况分析

目的:了解已婚育龄妇女弓形虫感染情况以及探讨弓形虫的感染途径、感染与不良生育的关系。方法:于1998年12月～2000年12月采用ELISE方法对1042例育龄妇女进行了TOX-IgM的筛查及有关情况调查。结果:本市已婚育龄妇女TOX-IgM平均感染率为12.18％,正常妊娠组及不良生育组显著高于未孕组(P<0.05);郊区妇女高于市区妇女(P<0.05);有动物接触史及有生食习惯的妇女显著高于无接触史及生食习惯者(P<0.05)。结论:TOX感染是引起不良生育的重要原因之一。建议育龄妇女孕前孕期加强TOX筛查工作,以及早诊治;加强健康教育,改变不良生活习惯;加强水源、粪便等卫生管理。     

Congenital toxoplasmosis—prenatal aspects of Toxoplasma gondii infection

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is the cause of toxoplasmosis. Primary infection in an immunocompetent person is usually asymptomatic. Serological surveys demonstrate that world-wide exposure to T. gondii is high (30% in US and 50–80% in Europe). Vertical transmission from a recently infected pregnant woman to her fetus may lead to congenital toxoplasmosis. The risk of such transmission increases as primary maternal infection occurs later in pregnancy. However, consequences for the fetus are more severe with transmission closer to conception. The timing of maternal primary infection is, therefore, critically linked to the clinical manifestations of the infection. Fetal infection may result in natural abortion. Often, no apparent symptoms are observed at birth and complications develop only later in life. The laboratory methods of assessing fetal risk of T. gondii infection are serology and direct tests.Screening programs for women at childbearing age or of the newborn, as well as education of the public regarding infection prevention, proved to be cost-effective and reduce the rate of infection.The impact of antiparasytic therapy on vertical transmission from mother to fetus is still controversial. However, specific therapy is recommended to be initiated as soon as infection is diagnosed.     

Prevalence and estimated incidence of Toxoplasma infection among pregnant women in Poland: a decreasing trend in the younger population

This study investigated the prevalence of specific Toxoplasma gondii IgG in pregnancy, the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis and the prevalence trend of T. gondii infection among pregnant Polish women between 1998 and 2003. The study population comprised 4916 women who were admitted to the Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute in Łódź. Their sera were tested for specific IgG and IgM antibodies to T. gondii, and the incidence of T. gondii infection was calculated from the increase in prevalence rates of IgG antibodies in various age groups. Specific IgG antibody was found in 41.3% (95% CI 39.9–42.7) of pregnant women, and the prevalence of IgG increased with age. The linear trend was significant (p <0.001), with an annual seroconversion rate of 0.7% (95% CI 0.004–0.010). The risk of primary infection was estimated to be 0.5% for 9 months, i.e., an incidence of 5/1000 pregnancies. Assuming a 30% maternofetal transmission rate, 1.5/1000 neonates were infected in utero. Seroprevalence during the 6-year study period decreased from 45.4% in 1998 to 39.4% in 2003, with a yearly decline in prevalence of 1.0% (p 0.02). The most important contributory factor to this decline was the group of women aged 19–29 years, among whom seroprevalence decreased significantly (p 0.007). Specific IgM was found in 244 (4.9%) women.     

聚合酶链反应检测实验动物弓形虫核酸的研究

建立弓形虫动物模型，常规方法提取肝、脾、肾、肺等组织DNA，应用聚合酶链反应（PCR）扩增，产物经电泳检测显示199bp的弓形虫特异带谱。并以γ－32p标记克隆的弓形虫特异DNA片段为探针，对扩增产物行Southern印迹分析，结果上述4种标本均出现阳性杂交带，进一步证实扩增条带是弓形虫特异DNA顺序。同时用酶标法检测显示鼠血清弓形虫抗体IgG；阳性。组织病理学检查结果，肝组织损伤较严重，肝细胞肿大，肝窦消失，脾、肾、肺组织可见轻微的病理改变。另外本文介绍一种简单PCR方法[1]，取鼠尾静脉血2μl直接进行扩增，结果与酚-氯仿法提取的DNA扩增结果一致。