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T. gondii infections suggest clustering within families
Toxoplasma gondii infection occurred in a high percentage of fathers of congenitally infected infants in the United States, indicating that the infections cluster within families, new research suggested.
“We identified an overall prevalence of paternal T. gondii infections of 36% and an overall incidence of within-family clusters of recent T. gondii infections of 13% among fathers who were tested within 1 year after the child’s birth,” Despina Contopoulos-Ioannidis, MD, clinical associate professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote. “These data are consistent with the conclusion that many fathers and mothers became infected with T. gondii around the same time and that T. gondii infections cluster within families.”
The researchers analyzed serum samples from the National Collaborative Chicago-Based Congenital Toxoplasmosis Study that were collected from families (n = 187) throughout the U.S. from 1981 to 2013. They calculated the prevalence of paternal seropositivity and incidence of recent infection by reviewing immunoglobulin G dye tests and IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
T. gondii infection was present in 36% of fathers (n = 81) of congenitally infected infants, which was considered high in relation to the average seropositivity of 9.8% for males aged 12 to 49 years during the period from 1994 to 2004. Infection also was found among 13% of the 45 fathers who were tested within 1 year after their child’s birth (P <.001). No relationship was observed in mothers or infants associated with the paternal infections.
“This new epidemiologic observation of within-family clusters of T. gondii infections in families of congenitally infected children emphasizes the risk of concurrent infection in family members exposed to contaminated food or water,” the researchers wrote. “When a recently infected person is identified, family clustering and community risk factors should be investigated for appropriate clinical management.” – by Will Offit
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
