[Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in students with occupational risk]. / Seroprevalencia de Toxoplasma gondii en estudiantes con riesgo ocupacional.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is a disease that results from infection with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, one of the world's most common parasites. The zoonotic infection usually occurs by eating undercooked contaminated meat or by contact with contaminated cat feces. A few studies of toxoplasmosis in healthy and immuno-compromised persons were done in Chile, but investigations related to occupational risk groups, such as Veterinary Medicine students were not studied. AIM: Determine the seroprevalence for T. gondii in Veterinary Medicine students at a university located in the center-south of the country, and evaluated to association with intrinsic variables. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were taken from 74 veterinary students from a university in south-central Chile. Immunoassay with sequential chemiluminescent was used as diagnostic technique. RESULTS: Of the total number of students, 16 were seropositive, which is equivalent to 21.6%, the largest number of seropositive students was female (75%), they were in the age range between 24 and 26 years of age (43.7%), all consumed meat and vegetables (100%) and collected pet cat feces without protection 50 (68,7%). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained show the presence of antibodies against T. gondii in Veterinary Medicine students. To the authors' knowledge, it is the first serological study for toxoplasmosis performed in university students of Veterinary Medicine in Chile.

Seroprevalencia de Toxoplasma gondii en estudiantes con riesgo ocupacional / Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in students with occupational risk

INTRODUCCIÓN: La toxoplasmosis es una enfermedad zoonótica cuyo contagio se produce por vía oral por ingestión de quistes al consumir carne contaminada o al tener contacto con heces de felinos contaminadas con ooquistes. Con menor frecuencia, se adquiere por transmisión vertical o por trasplante de órganos infectados. En Chile, existen estudios serológicos en personas sanas e inmunodeprimidas, pero no en grupos de riesgo ocupacional, como son los estudiantes de Medicina Veterinaria. OBJETIVO: Determinar la seroprevalencia para T. gondii en estudiantes de Medicina Veterinaria de una universidad ubicada en el centro-sur del país, y ver su asociación con variable intrínsecas. MÉTODOS. Se tomaron muestras de sangre a 74 estudiantes de una universidad del centro-sur de Chile. Se determinó la presencia de anticuerpos específicos clase IgG contra Toxoplasma gondii mediante la técnica de inmunoanálisis por quimioluminiscencia en fase solida secuencial. RESULTADOS. Del total de alumnos, 16 fueron seropositivos lo que equivale a 21,6%, el mayor número de estudiantes seropositivos fue de sexo femenino (75%), se encontraban en el rango etario entre 24 y 26 años de edad (43,7%), todos consumían carne y verduras (100%) y realizaban la recolección de heces de gatos sin protección 50 (68,7%). CONCLUSIONES. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran la presencia de anticuerpos contra T. gondii en alumnos de Medicina Veterinaria. Según el conocimiento de los autores, es el primer estudio serológico para toxoplasmosis realizado en estudiantes universitarios de Medicina Veterinaria en Chile.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is a disease that results from infection with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, one of the world's most common parasites. The zoonotic infection usually occurs by eating undercooked contaminated meat or by contact with contaminated cat feces. A few studies of toxoplasmosis in healthy and immuno-compromised persons were done in Chile, but investigations related to occupational risk groups, such as Veterinary Medicine students were not studied. AIM: Determine the seroprevalence for T. gondii in Veterinary Medicine students at a university located in the center-south of the country, and evaluated to association with intrinsic variables. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were taken from 74 veterinary students from a university in south-central Chile. Immunoassay with sequential chemiluminescent was used as diagnostic technique. RESULTS. Of the total number of students, 16 were seropositive, which is equivalent to 21.6%, the largest number of seropositive students was female (75%), they were in the age range between 24 and 26 years of age (43.7%), all consumed meat and vegetables (100%) and collected pet cat feces without protection 50 (68,7%). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained show the presence of antibodies against T. gondii in Veterinary Medicine students. To the authors' knowledge, it is the first serological study for toxoplasmosis performed in university students of Veterinary Medicine in Chile.