Seroprevalence and risk factor investigation for the exposure of Toxoplasma gondii among veterinary personnel in Punjab, India

Abstract Toxoplasma gondii , a globally important food borne zoonotic parasite, infects most of the warm blooded animals as well as people. One third of worlds population has been exposed to T. gondii at least once in their lifetime. Veterinarians and para vets are considered at risk of T. gondii exposure. As far as we are aware, occupational exposure of T. gondii has not been systematically explored from north India. We determined the seroprevalence of T. gondii in veterinary personnel and investigated associated risk factors in Punjab, India. Two hundred and five blood samples collected from veterinary personnel were tested for the presence of Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies using ELISA. The apparent and true seroprevalence of T. gondii with 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated. Information about participant demographics, and possible routes of exposure was collected using a self completed questionnaire at the time of blood collection. A veterinary person was considered Toxoplasma seropositive using a combination of tests in parallel, i.e. if it was positive in either IgG or IgM ELISA. A mixed effects logistic regression model was constructed to evaluate the association of demography, occupational and non-occupational factors with Toxoplasma seropositive status. The apparent and estimated true seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies using Toxoplasma IgG ELISA was found to be 8.78% (95% CI 5.63% - 13.45%) and 7.36% (95% CI 4.04% - 12.29%), respectively. The apparent and estimated true seroprevalence using Toxoplasma IgM ELISA was found to be 0.49% (95% CI inestimable - 2.71%) and 0.51% (95% CI inestimable - 2.83%), respectively. After adjusting for other variables in the final model, consuming mutton and owning a cat were associated with large odds of being Toxoplasma seropositive. We report that occupational risk factors are not associated with Toxoplasma seropositivity in veterinary personnel in Punjab, India. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in veterinary personnel is comparatively low and occupational exposure in veterinary personnel does not enhance risk of getting infected with T. gondii in Punjab, India.