SEROEPIDEMIOLOGY OF TOXOPLASMOSIS IN THE LUBLIN ...

26 Sroka Jbelieved that the most important factors in theepidemiology of T. gondii are cats, pigs, sheep, cattle,fowl and wild game [4]. Serologic examination fortoxoplasmosis in Poland showed a high percent ofpositive reactions in cattle (55%), pigs (21.2%-53%) andin sheep (up to 80%) [28].There is much evidence that the habit of consumptionof undercooked or raw meat is related to hightoxoplasmosis morbidity. In the case of bad sanitary andconsumption habits toxoplasmosis may concern moremembers of the family and thus have the familyenvironmentalcharacter [28].Toxoplasmosis may result from consumption ofundercooked or raw meat containing parasite cysts, orfrom contact with food, water or sand contaminated withoocysts spread by infected cats. There is also thepossibility of transplacental transmission of the parasite tothe foetus during pregnancy. The disease may alsodevelop in the laboratory workers handling infectiousmaterial, after transplantation of organ containing cysts,and through transfusion of infected blood. In people witha well-functioning immunologic system the infectionusually has no symptoms except for development ofspecific antibodies. In people with immunologic disorderprimary invasion may develop or recurrence of chronicinvasion with clinical signs. Most common is thelymphonodular form of toxoplasmosis involving mainlylymph glands in the neck and nape area. Changes mayconcern also liver, spleen, lungs and cardiac muscle,central nervous system and eyes. In the case ofimmunologic disorder generalized toxoplasmosis maydevelop, as in AIDS patients. Especially dangerous is thecongenital form of toxoplasmosis; it develops in abouthalf of pregnant women who were primarily infectedduring pregnancy. The parasites may cause intracranialcalcifications, hydrocephalus and chorioretinitis [28].In animals T. gondii rarely ignites symptoms. The mostfrequent is the latent form characterized by the presenceof tissue cysts in muscles and organs of animals forprolonged periods.The aim of the present study was an evaluation of thefrequency of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies inforestry workers and farmers in the Lublin region.Detection of infected animals as the potential sources oftoxoplasmosis for humans and characterization of the fociof family-environmental toxoplasmosis were the secondarygoals.MATERIALS AND METHODSExamined subjectsSeroepidemiologic examinations of humans. Examinationswere carried out in 1,327 people employed inforestry from five districts and in 86 farmers from twodistricts of the Lublin region (Fig. 1). The administrativedivision before the reform introduced in 1998 is takeninto consideration throughout the paper. 34 office workers=GXY`G]G3XáDZ\/8%/,1-DQyZ/XEHOVNL7$512%5=(*%,$à$32'/$6.$6RVQRZLFD&+(à0=$02û:áRGDZD6RELEyUFigure 1. Map showing area of study: five districts in theLublin region.employed in the forestry headquarters in Lublin and 50blood donors (healthy inhabitants of Lublin) wereexamined as the control group.The majority of forestry workers were people actuallyworking in the forest. Age, gender, working time, contactwith free living and domestic animals, and past diseaseswere taken into account. The mean age of 1,086 men and241 women from the forestry group was 40 years, and themean period of employment was 13 years. Epidemiologicanamnesis has shown that almost everyone from thisgroup had contact with domestic and wild animals. Themean age of 54 women and 32 men from farmers groupwas 41 years and the mean age of 75 men and 9 women inthe control group was 35 years.Seroepidemiologic examination of animals. Sera from494 animals were examined: 262 from cows, 120 frompigs, 34 from geese, 65 from 38-week old chickens from abreeding farm. Three roe deer and 10 sheep were alsoexamined from areas where high percentages of positivereactions in people were found. All animals originatedfrom the Lublin region.Examination of the family-environmental case oftoxoplasmosis. During the study a case of familyenvironmentalcharacter was evidenced in Potok Wielkivillage (Tarnobrzeg district). Detailed epidemiologicanamnesis was performed. Data about family membersconcerning age, gender, place and time of employment,past diseases, contact with domestic and wild animals,information about diet, origin of the food, type of foodand method of cooking, and the presence of raw meat inthe diet were collected. Data about animal diseases werealso collected. The sera collected from men and animalswere examined for toxoplasmosis.