Infection in Dustmen in Northeastern China: A Case-Control Seroprevalence Study.

BACKGROUND

Toxoplasmosis is caused by an intracellular parasite , which can infect many hosts including humans.

METHODS

In order to estimate whether dustmen are more susceptible to , a case-control study was conducted containing 332 dustmen from Jilin and Heilongjiang in Northeastern China, as well as 332 general populations from the same regions as control subjects. Serum samples were tested IgG and IgM antibodies to using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

The overall anti- IgG was 15.06% (50/332) in dustmen compared with 9.64% (32/332) in the controls ( = 0.0337). Also, 5 (1.51%) dustmen had anti- IgM antibodies compared with 2 (0.60%) control individuals ( = 0.2543). A significant association was only found between dustmen and level of IgG in comparison with the control subjects. Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies in male dustmen was significant higher than male control subjects ( = 0.0399). Dustmen from Jilin had the significant higher IgG rate ( = 0.0143), in comparison with the control subjects from Jilin. Moreover, dustmen raising cat at home had the significant higher IgG rate ( = 0.0097), in comparison with the control subjects. Risk factor analysis suggested that raising cat at home and not having habits of washing hand before eating were mainly related to the infection in dustmen.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first record of seroprevalence of infection in dustmen in Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces in Northeastern China. These findings also suggest that the government departments should pay close attention to the toxoplasmosis in dustmen in Northeastern China.