Anti Toxoplasma antibodies prevalence and associated risk factors among HIV patients

Objective: To assess the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of toxoplasmosis among HIV patients in Agaro Town Health Center of Jimma zone. Methods: Convenient sampling was used to collect blood samples from 135 patients attending anti retroviral therapy from February to March 2015. Serum samples were tested for anti-Toxoplasma gondii(T. gondii) antibody by using latex agglutination test. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic and risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis. Results: Overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 80.7%(109/135, CI: 74.04-87.36). In multivariate analysis significant association was observed between anti T. gondii seropositivity and raw meat consumption(OR: 3.514, CI: 1.167 10.581, P=0.025), knowledge about toxoplasmosis(OR: 5.225, CI: 1.382, P=0.015) and sex(OR: 4.023, CI: 1.382-19.762, P=0.015). Conclusions: Immuno compromised patients showed high rate of seropositivity and thus, it is highly advisable to introduce routine anti-T. gondii antibodies serological screening test prior to ART commencement.

Environmental determinants of distribution of freshwater snails and trematode infection in the Omo Gibe River Basin,southwest Ethiopia

Background:Determination of infection rates of snail populations is one of the basic tools for epidemiological studies of snail borne diseases.In this study,we opted to determine the trematode infection of freshwater snails in the Omo-Gibe River Basin,southwest Ethiopia.Methods:We collected snail samples from 130 observation sites in lakes,wetlands,rivers,reservoirs and irrigation canals surveyed during the dry season(March to May)in 2016.The snail samples were examined for trematode infections by cercarial shedding immediately after collection.Habitat conditions,water quality,human water contact practices and other human activities were assessed at each survey site.A redundancy analysis(RDA)was used to examine the relationship between cercarial infection and environmental variables.The statistical significance of eigenvalues and cercariae-environment correlations generated by the RDA were tested using Monte Carlo permutations at 499 permutations.Results:A total of 3107 snails belonging to five species were collected.The most abundant species was Biomphalario pfeifferi,representing 66%of the total collection.Overall,109(3.6%)of the snails were found infected with trematodes(cercariae).Biompholario pfeifferi was found to be the most highly infected,accounting 85%of all infected snails.A total of eight morphologically different types of cercariae were recorded,which included:Echinostoma cercariae,brevifurcate apharyngeate distome cercariae,amphistome cercariae,brevifurcate apharyngeate monostome cercariae,xiphidiocercariae,longifurcate pharyngeate distome cercariae,strigea cercariae and unidentified cercariae.Brevifurcate apharyngeate distome cercariae,and Echinostoma cercariae were the most abundant cercariae,accounting for 36 and 34%of all infection,respectively.The mean concentration of water conductivity and 5 days biological oxygen demand were higher in irrigation canals and lake sampling points.Human activities such as open field defecation,urination,livestock grazing,farming,and swimming were highly correlated with trematode infection.Conclusions:The abundance,occurrence and infection rates of snail species were largely influenced by water physicochemical quality,sanitation and water contact behaviour of the inhabitants.Human activities,such as open field defecation and urination,livestock grazing,farming,and swimming were important predictors of the abundance of cercariae.Therefore,awareness creation should be implemented for proper containment of excreta(urine and faeces)and reducing human and animal contacts with surface waters to reduce snail-borne disease transmission.