Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women and livestock in the mainland of China: a systematic review and hierarchical meta-analysis

Deng, H. and Devleesschauwer, B. and Liu, M. and Li, J. and Wu, Y. and van der Giessen, J. W. B. and Opsteegh, M.

Sci Rep (2018) 8: 6218

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24361-8

Abstract

Primary Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women may result in abortion, stillbirth, or lifelong disabilities of the unborn child. One of the main transmission routes to humans is consumption of raw or undercooked meat containing T. gondii tissue cysts. We aim to determine and compare the regional distribution of T. gondii seroprevalence in pregnant women and meat-producing livestock in China through a systematic literature review. A total of 272 eligible publications were identified from Medline, Scopus, Embase and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Apparent and true seroprevalence were analysed by region using a novel Bayesian hierarchical model that allowed incorporating sensitivity and specificity of the applied serological assays. The true seroprevalence of T. gondii in pregnant women was 5.0% or less in seven regions of China. The median of the regional true seroprevalences in pigs (24%) was significantly higher than in cattle (9.5%), but it was not significantly higher than in chickens (20%) and small ruminants (20%). This study represents the first use of a Bayesian hierarchical model to obtain regional true seroprevalence. These results, in combination with meat consumption data, can be used to better understand the contribution of meat-producing animals to human T. gondii infection in China.

Citation

Deng, H., Devleesschauwer, B., Liu, M., Li, J., Wu, Y., van der Giessen, J. W. B., & Opsteegh, M. (2018). Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women and livestock in the mainland of China: a systematic review and hierarchical meta-analysis. Sci Rep, 8(1), 6218. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-24361-8 Animals, Adult, Female, Humans, Chickens, Immunoassay, Pregnancy, Swine, Cattle, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Bayes Theorem, China/epidemiology, Sensitivity and Specificity, *Pregnancy Complications, *Toxoplasma/immunology, Antibodies, Protozoan, Geography, Medical, Livestock/*parasitology, Parasitic Diseases, Animal/*epidemiology/immunology/*parasitology, Public Health Surveillance, Toxoplasmosis/*epidemiology/immunology/*parasitology

Keywords

• Animals
• Adult
• Female
• Humans
• Chickens
• Immunoassay
• Pregnancy
• Swine
• Cattle
• Seroepidemiologic Studies
• Bayes Theorem
• China/epidemiology
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• *Pregnancy Complications
• *Toxoplasma/immunology
• Antibodies
• Protozoan
• Geography
• Medical
• Livestock/*parasitology
• Parasitic Diseases
• Animal/*epidemiology/immunology/*parasitology
• Public Health Surveillance
• Toxoplasmosis/*epidemiology/immunology/*parasitology