TY - JOUR
T1 - Risk factors for acute toxoplasmosis in the Netherlands
AU - Friesema, Ingrid H.M.
AU - Hofhuis, Agnetha
AU - Hoek-Van Deursen, Denise
AU - Jansz, Arjan R.
AU - Ott, Alewijn
AU - Van Hellemond, Jaap J.
AU - Van Der Giessen, Joke
AU - Kortbeek, Laetitia M.
AU - Opsteegh, Marieke
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (grant number 9.2.3.B.07 Toxoplasma).
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press.
PY - 2023/5/24
Y1 - 2023/5/24
N2 - Toxoplasmosis caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii occurs worldwide. Infections range from asymptomatic to life-threatening. T. gondii infection is acquired either via bradyzoites in meat or via oocysts in the environment, but the relative importance of these path ways and the different sources remains unclear. In this study, possible risk factors for toxoplasmosis in the Netherlands were investigated. A case-control study was conducted including persons with recent infection and individuals with a negative test result for IgM and IgG for T. gondii between July 2016 and April 2021. A total of 48 cases and 50 controls completed the questionnaire. Food history and environmental exposure were compared using logistic regression. Consumption of different meats was found to be associated with recent infection. In the multivariable model, adjusted for age, gender, and pregnancy, consumption of large game meat (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 8.2, 95% confidence interval 1.6-41.9) and sometimes (aOR 4.1, 1.1-15.3) or never (aOR 15.9, 2.2-115.5) washing hands before food preparation remained. These results emphasize the value of the advice to be careful with the consumption of raw and undercooked meat. Good hand hygiene could also be promoted in the prevention of T. gondii infection.
AB - Toxoplasmosis caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii occurs worldwide. Infections range from asymptomatic to life-threatening. T. gondii infection is acquired either via bradyzoites in meat or via oocysts in the environment, but the relative importance of these path ways and the different sources remains unclear. In this study, possible risk factors for toxoplasmosis in the Netherlands were investigated. A case-control study was conducted including persons with recent infection and individuals with a negative test result for IgM and IgG for T. gondii between July 2016 and April 2021. A total of 48 cases and 50 controls completed the questionnaire. Food history and environmental exposure were compared using logistic regression. Consumption of different meats was found to be associated with recent infection. In the multivariable model, adjusted for age, gender, and pregnancy, consumption of large game meat (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 8.2, 95% confidence interval 1.6-41.9) and sometimes (aOR 4.1, 1.1-15.3) or never (aOR 15.9, 2.2-115.5) washing hands before food preparation remained. These results emphasize the value of the advice to be careful with the consumption of raw and undercooked meat. Good hand hygiene could also be promoted in the prevention of T. gondii infection.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85160930153
U2 - 10.1017/S0950268823000808
DO - 10.1017/S0950268823000808
M3 - Article
C2 - 37222136
AN - SCOPUS:85160930153
SN - 0950-2688
VL - 151
JO - Epidemiology and Infection
JF - Epidemiology and Infection
M1 - e95
ER -
