Mathematical modelling of  Toxoplasma gondii  transmission: A systematic review

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Abstract

Background

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous protozoan parasite that can infect virtually all warm-blooded animals. It is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, a significant public health issue worldwide. Mathematical models are useful to study the transmission dynamics of T. gondii infection in different settings, and may be used to compare the effectiveness of prevention measures.

Methods

To obtain an overview of existing mathematical models for transmission of T. gondii, a systematic review was undertaken. The review was conducted according to an a priori protocol and the results were reported according to the PRISMA guidelines. Specific search terms were developed and used in the search of three databases (Scopus, PubMed, and Embase).

Results

In total, 484 unique records were retrieved from the systematic search. Among them, 15 studies that used mathematical models to study the transmission of T. gondii. These studies were categorized into four groups based on the primary aims: dynamics of transmission ( n = 8), intervention ( n = 5), spatial distribution ( n = 1), and outbreak investigation (n = 1).

Conclusions

Considering the high disease burden caused by T. gondii, the number of studies using mathematical models to understand the transmission dynamics of this parasite and to evaluate the effectiveness of intervention measures was only 15. This systematic review provides an overview of existing mathematical models and identifies the data gaps for model building. The results from this study can be helpful for further development of mathematical models and improved understanding of the transmission dynamics of T. gondii infection.

Highlights

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We identified 15 mathematical models studying the transmission of T. gondii.
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An overview of existing mathematical models on transmission of T. gondii is presented.
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Modelling approaches and control strategies investigated by the models are compared.

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Most cited references 59

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Toxoplasma gondii: from animals to humans

Astrid Tenter, Anja R. Heckeroth, Louis Weiss (2000)

Toxoplasmosis is one of the more common parasitic zoonoses world-wide. Its causative agent, Toxoplasma gondii, is a facultatively heteroxenous, polyxenous protozoon that has developed several potential routes of transmission within and between different host species. If first contracted during pregnancy, T. gondii may be transmitted vertically by tachyzoites that are passed to the foetus via the placenta. Horizontal transmission of T. gondii may involve three life-cycle stages, i.e. ingesting infectious oocysts from the environment or ingesting tissue cysts or tachyzoites which are contained in meat or primary offal (viscera) of many different animals. Transmission may also occur via tachyzoites contained in blood products, tissue transplants, or unpasteurised milk. However, it is not known which of these routes is more important epidemiologically. In the past, the consumption of raw or undercooked meat, in particular of pigs and sheep, has been regarded as a major route of transmission to humans. However, recent studies showed that the prevalence of T. gondii in meat-producing animals decreased considerably over the past 20 years in areas with intensive farm management. For example, in several countries of the European Union prevalences of T. gondii in fattening pigs are now <1%. Considering these data it is unlikely that pork is still a major source of infection for humans in these countries. However, it is likely that the major routes of transmission are different in human populations with differences in culture and eating habits. In the Americas, recent outbreaks of acute toxoplasmosis in humans have been associated with oocyst contamination of the environment. Therefore, future epidemiological studies on T. gondii infections should consider the role of oocysts as potential sources of infection for humans, and methods to monitor these are currently being developed. This review presents recent epidemiological data on T. gondii, hypotheses on the major routes of transmission to humans in different populations, and preventive measures that may reduce the risk of contracting a primary infection during pregnancy.

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Toxoplasmosis: A history of clinical observations.

Louis Weiss, Jitender Dubey (2009)

It has been 100 years since Toxoplasma gondii was initially described in Tunis by Nicolle and Manceaux (1908) in the tissues of the gundi (Ctenodoactylus gundi) and in Brazil by Splendore (1908) in the tissues of a rabbit. Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous, Apicomplexan parasite of warm-blooded animals that can cause several clinical syndromes including encephalitis, chorioretinitis, congenital infection and neonatal mortality. Fifteen years after the description of T. gondii by Nicolle and Manceaux a fatal case of toxoplasmosis in a child was reported by Janků. In 1939 Wolf, Cowen and Paige were the first to conclusively identify T. gondii as a cause of human disease. This review examines the clinical manifestations of infection with T. gondii and the history of the discovery of these manifestations.

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Epidemiology of and diagnostic strategies for toxoplasmosis.

Florence Robert-Gangneux, Marie-Laure Dardé (2012)

The apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii was discovered a little over 100 years ago, but knowledge of its biological life cycle and its medical importance has grown in the last 40 years. This obligate intracellular parasite was identified early as a pathogen responsible for congenital infection, but its clinical expression and the importance of reactivations of infections in immunocompromised patients were recognized later, in the era of organ transplantation and HIV infection. Recent knowledge of host cell-parasite interactions and of parasite virulence has brought new insights into the comprehension of the pathophysiology of infection. In this review, we focus on epidemiological and diagnostic aspects, putting them in perspective with current knowledge of parasite genotypes. In particular, we provide critical information on diagnostic methods according to the patient's background and discuss the implementation of screening tools for congenital toxoplasmosis according to health policies.

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Author and article information

Contributors

Huifang Deng

Rachel Cummins

Gereon Schares

Chiara Trevisan

Heidi Enemark

Helga Waap

Jelena Srbljanovic

Olgica Djurkovic-Djakovic

Sara Monteiro Pires

Joke W.B. van der Giessen

Marieke Opsteegh

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Food Waterborne Parasitol

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Food Waterborne Parasitol

Title: Food and Waterborne Parasitology

Publisher: Elsevier

ISSN (Electronic): 2405-6766

Publication date PMC-release: 09 December 2020

Publication date Collection: March 2021

Publication date (Electronic): 09 December 2020

Volume: 22

Electronic Location Identifier: e00102

Affiliations

[a ]Centre for Infectious Disease Control - Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3720, BA, Bilthoven, the Netherlands

[b ]Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany

[c ]Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium

[d ]Department of Animal Health and Food Safety, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750, Sentrum, NO-0106 Oslo, Norway

[e ]Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal

[f ]Centre of Excellence for Food- and Vector-borne Zoonoses, National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotića 4, Belgrade 11129, Serbia

[g ]National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet 201, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

Author notes

[* ]Corresponding author at: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, P.O. Box 1, 3720, BA, Bilthoven, the Netherlands. marieke.opsteegh@ 123456rivm.nl

Article

Publisher Item ID: S2405-6766(20)30031-7 Publisher ID: e00102

DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2020.e00102

PMC ID: 7753131

SO-VID: f65a4f82-8881-488d-942b-6f7f4f9afa0f

License:

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

History

Date received : 1 July 2020

Date revision received : 27 November 2020

Date accepted : 4 December 2020

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Mathematical modelling of Toxoplasma gondii transmission: A systematic review

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Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Highlights

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TKD - Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction

Most cited references 59

Toxoplasma gondii: from animals to humans

Toxoplasmosis: A history of clinical observations.

Epidemiology of and diagnostic strategies for toxoplasmosis.

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