Advancing multiplex serology.

Unlabelled: is a highly prevalent pathogen causing zoonotic infections with significant public health implications. Yet, our understanding of long-term consequences, associated risk factors, and the potential role of co-infections is still limited. Seroepidemiological studies are a valuable approach to address open questions and enhance our insights into across human populations.

Calcium signaling mediates proliferation of the precursor cells that give rise to the ciliated left-right organizer in the zebrafish embryo.

Several of our internal organs, including heart, lungs, stomach, and spleen, develop asymmetrically along the left-right (LR) body axis. Errors in establishing LR asymmetry, or laterality, of internal organs during early embryonic development can result in birth defects. In several vertebrates-including humans, mice, frogs, and fish-cilia play a central role in establishing organ laterality.

Discordant Congenital Toxoplasmosis and Cytomegalovirus Infection in Dichorionic Diamniotic Twins.

Background: Toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus (CMV) congenital infection present with similar clinical pictures. Both infections have long-term sequelae that can be mitigated by early detection and treatment. Coinfection is uncommonly reported.

Fifteen-minute consultation: Management of the infant born to a mother with toxoplasmosis in pregnancy.

Congenital toxoplasmosis occurs following transplacental transfer of Irrespective of symptom status at birth, infants with congenital infection may develop serious long-term sequelae, including learning disability, seizures, hydrocephalus, motor and hearing deficits, chorioretinitis and retinal scarring with impaired vision. Timely diagnosis facilitates early initiation of therapy, aimed at prevention or amelioration of adverse clinical consequences. Diagnosis can be difficult, however, since acutely infected mothers are often asymptomatic and laboratory testing can be complex.

Validation of Multiplex Serology for human hepatitis viruses B and C, human T-lymphotropic virus 1 and Toxoplasma gondii.

Multiplex Serology is a high-throughput technology developed to simultaneously measure specific serum antibodies against multiple pathogens in one reaction vessel. Serological assays for hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses, human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) and the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) were developed and validated against established reference assays.

Toxoplasmosis in Transplant Recipients, Europe, 2010-2014.

Transplantation activity is increasing, leading to a growing number of patients at risk for toxoplasmosis. We reviewed toxoplasmosis prevention practices, prevalence, and outcomes for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and solid organ transplant (SOT; heart, kidney, or liver) patients in Europe. We collected electronic data on the transplant population and prevention guidelines/regulations and clinical data on toxoplasmosis cases diagnosed during 2010-2014.

East-West Divide: temperature and land cover drive spatial variation of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) from England and Wales.

Toxoplasma gondii, a zoonotic parasite of global importance, infects all endothermic vertebrates, with extensive health implications. The prevalence of this parasite is seldom monitored in wildlife. Here, a semi-aquatic species, the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) was used as a model to assess the potential effect of climate, land cover and biotic factors on T.

Establishment of replacement International Standard 13/132 for human antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii.

Sixteen laboratories carried out a collaborative study to validate 13/132 as a replacement International Standard (IS) for TOXM (3rd IS for anti-Toxoplasma Serum, Human, 1000 IU). 13/132 is a freeze dried preparation of pooled human plasma from six donors who experienced a recent Toxoplasma gondii infection. The potency of 13/132 was compared to TOXM and 01/600 (1st IS for anti-Toxoplasma IgG, Human, 20 IU).

Isolation and characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi strains from Ixodes ricinus ticks in the southern England.

Introduction: Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the spiral-shaped bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. We investigated the presence and prevalence of Borrelia species in ticks from the southern England.

Methods: One hundred fifty-five cases (103 adult and 52 nymphal ticks) were collected from animal carcases.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in England and Wales.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is found on all continents and can infect all endothermic vertebrates. Toxoplasmosis is a globally important zoonosis with potentially devastating health impacts both for humans and a range of domestic and wild species. The World Health Organisation have repeatedly recommended the collection of accurate epidemiological data for T.

Determining Toxoplasma high-risk autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients by systematic pre-transplant PCR screening of stem cell originated buffy coat.

The diagnosis of Toxoplasma infection or disease in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients is achieved mainly by PCR screening; however screening did not find wide field of use in practice due to costly expenditures of PCR. This study aimed to determine patients at high risk of Toxoplasma infection or disease before transplantation by stem cell originated buffy coat PCR and subsequently to screen them. Buffy coats collected from 12 autologous and 18 allogeneic HSCT patients' donors were investigated by PCR before transplantation.

The United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service for parasitology: toxoplasma serology scheme.

Aim: To examine performance in the UK National External Quality Assessment Scheme (UKNEQAS) for toxoplasma serology for evidence of discrepant results as compared with the predistribution and postdistribution results supplied by the toxoplasma reference laboratories.

Methods: Analysis of performance in the toxoplasma IgG and IgM schemes was made for the period 1994-2008 to look for trends in performance.

Results: For the IgG scheme, a mean of 98% of participants obtained the correct result for detection of toxoplasma-specific antibody.

Toxoplasma retinochoroiditis in pregnancy: Using current evidence to inform management.

Toxoplasma retinochoroiditis in pregnancy may create considerable patient anxiety and is a dilemma for the treating ophthalmologist. A case report highlighting this clinical issue is presented followed by a review of the literature. Consensus in relation to the management of toxoplasma retinochoroiditis in pregnancy is lacking and is discussed.

The sero-prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in British marine mammals.

Serum samples from 101 stranded or bycatch cetaceans from British waters were screened for Toxoplasma gondii-specific antibodies using the Sabin Feldman Dye Test. Relatively high seropositivity was recorded in short-beaked Delphinus delphis and this study presents the first documented case of Toxoplasma in a humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae.

Incidence and diagnosis of active toxoplasma infection among liver transplant recipients in Western Turkey.

Toxoplasmosis is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease in liver transplant recipients while they are immunosuppressed. We report the clinical and laboratory findings related to active toxoplasma infection associated with 40 immunosuppressed liver transplant procedures that took place over a 12-month period at a major transplant unit in Izmir, Turkey. Twenty-seven (67.

The prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in Turkish children, and genotyping of isolates by nested polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Objective: To verify the incidence of cryptosporidiosis among Turkish elementary school students.

Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Turkey during a 3-month period in 2006. We assessed the fecal samples of 707 children using modified acid-fast and phenol-auramine staining followed by modified Ritchie concentration method.

European multicenter study of the LIAISON automated diagnostic system for determination of Toxoplasma gondii-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM and the IgG avidity index.

The LIAISON system is a fully automated system based on chemiluminescence and antigen bound to magnetic microparticles. The system allows fast and precise measurement of Toxoplasma-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibody levels and measurement of the IgG avidity index even at low levels of Toxoplasma-specific IgG antibodies in a single step without manual interference. Seven European centers participated in a multicenter evaluation of the LIAISON system.

Evaluation of a candidate international standard preparation for human anti-Toxoplasma immunoglobulin G.

A freeze-dried human serum preparation containing immunoglobulin G (IgG) to Toxoplasma gondii was assessed for its suitability as an international reference reagent in an international collaborative study by 24 laboratories from 17 countries. This candidate standard was compared with the third international standard (IS) for human anti-Toxoplasma serum, TOXM, with the previous second IS, TOXS, and with a range of other serum samples. Samples were tested with the Sabin-Feldman dye test and a range of agglutination assays and enzyme immunoassays.

Molecular evidence for multiple Toxoplasma gondii infections in individual patients in England and Wales: public health implications.

We sought to determine the SAG2 genotypes of Toxoplasma gondii associated with cases of acute human toxoplasmosis in England and Wales. The samples examined were collected from a wide range of cases including congenital infections, AIDS and immunosuppressed patients and were derived from a number of different tissues. Parasite DNA was detected by PCR amplification without the need for prior template purification, and SAG2 genotype was determined by both restriction enzyme analysis and direct DNA sequencing of the PCR amplification products.

The molecular basis of sulfonamide resistance in Toxoplasma gondii and implications for the clinical management of toxoplasmosis.

Polymerase chain reaction amplification and DNA sequencing of the Toxoplasma gondii dihydropteroate synthase gene (dhps) identified 4 alleles among parasite populations from 32 cases of human toxoplasmosis. Heterologous expression and enzyme assay reveal that 3 of these alleles encode sulfadiazine (Sdz)-sensitive enzymes. The fourth, generating a highly Sdz-resistant enzyme, differs from 1 of the other 3 at only a single residue (407) of DHPS.