Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Patients Undergoing Regular Hemodialysis in Disenfranchised Communities: A Multicenter Study during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background and Objectives: Due to their weakened immune response, hemodialysis (HD) patients with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) are at higher risk for active tuberculosis (TB) disease and are more subject to patient-to-patient transmission within dialysis units. Consequently, current guidelines advocate screening these patients for LTBI. To our knowledge, the epidemiology of LTBI in HD patients has never been examined before in Lebanon. In this context, this study aimed to determine LTBI prevalence among patients undergoing regular HD in Northern Lebanon and to identify potential factors associated with this infection. Notably, the study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is likely to have catastrophic effects on TB and increase the risk of mortality and hospitalization in HD patients. Materials and Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was carried out in three hospital dialysis units in Tripoli, North Lebanon. Blood samples and sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from 93 HD patients. To screen for LTBI, all patient samples underwent the fourth-generation QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus assay (QFT-Plus). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the predictors of LTBI status in HD patients. Results: Overall, 51 men and 42 women were enrolled. The mean age of the study population was 58.3 ± 12.4 years. Nine HD patients had indeterminate QFT-Plus results and were therefore excluded from subsequent statistical analysis. Among the remaining 84 participants with valid results, QFT-Plus was positive in 16 patients, showing a positivity prevalence of 19% (95% interval for p: 11.3%, 29.1%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that LTBI was significantly associated with age [OR = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.13; p = 0.03] and a low-income level [OR = 9.29; 95% CI = 1.62 to 178; p = 0.04]. Conclusion: LTBI was found to be prevalent in one in five HD patients examined in our study. Therefore, effective TB control measures need to be implemented in this vulnerable population, with special attention to elderly patients with low socioeconomic status.

Alteration of Flt3-Ligand-dependent de novo generation of conventional dendritic cells during influenza infection contributes to respiratory bacterial superinfection.

Secondary bacterial infections contribute to the excess morbidity and mortality of influenza A virus (IAV) infection. Disruption of lung integrity and impaired antibacterial immunity during IAV infection participate in colonization and dissemination of the bacteria out of the lungs. One key feature of IAV infection is the profound alteration of lung myeloid cells, characterized by the recruitment of deleterious inflammatory monocytes. We herein report that IAV infection causes a transient decrease of lung conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) (both cDC1 and cDC2) peaking at day 7 post-infection. While triggering emergency monopoiesis, IAV transiently altered the differentiation of cDCs in the bone marrow, the cDC1-biaised pre-DCs being particularly affected. The impaired cDC differentiation during IAV infection was independent of type I interferons (IFNs), IFN-γ, TNFα and IL-6 and was not due to an intrinsic dysfunction of cDC precursors. The alteration of cDC differentiation was associated with a drop of local and systemic production of Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3-L), a critical cDC differentiation factor. Overexpression of Flt3-L during IAV infection boosted the cDC progenitors' production in the BM, replenished cDCs in the lungs, decreased inflammatory monocytes' infiltration and lowered lung damages. This was associated with partial protection against secondary pneumococcal infection, as reflected by reduced bacterial dissemination and prolonged survival. These findings highlight the impact of distal viral infection on cDC genesis in the BM and suggest that Flt3-L may have potential applications in the control of secondary infections.

High levels of plasma interleukin-17A are associated with severe neurological sequelae in Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

OBJECTIVE: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a granulomatous inflammatory myeloid neoplasia associated with a cytokine storm in both serum and lesions. Increased levels of plasma interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in LCH patients have been reported, but this finding was not confirmed in all studies. Neurodegeneration is a devastating complication of LCH (ND-LCH). We aimed to revisit the issue of plasma IL-17A levels in LCH, by using a larger number of patients, and also to investigate the relationship between IL-17A and LCH sequelae, especially ND-LCH. METHODS: Plasma samples from 68 LCH patients and 127 controls were analyzed for IL-17A levels by two ELISAs with different anti-IL-17A capture antibodies: either polyclonal or neutralizing monoclonal antibodies in 17polyAb-ELISA or 17mAb-ELISA, respectively. RESULTS: Both ELISAs had a similar capacity to specifically detect recombinant or native human IL-17A, as well as plasma IL-17A from LCH patients. We confirmed the finding of higher levels of plasma IL-17A in LCH patients compared to controls (p < 0.0001). The association of IL-17A with LCH was independent of the ELISA used, and of gender, age, disease class activity, and pattern of tissue-organ involvement (single-system versus multi-system). ROC analyses (p < 0.0001) allow to discriminate LCH patients from the control group, supporting the notion that IL-17A may be a potential biomarker for LCH. More interestingly, high IL-17A levels were significantly associated with LCH patients having sequelae, with the highest plasma levels in patients with ND-LCH (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The association between high levels of IL-17A and LCH was confirmed. IL-17A may be associated with ND-LCH development. This might have therapeutic implications, offering a novel target for precision therapy of ND-LCH.

Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, Lebanon, 2016 - 2017.

In a 12-month nationwide study on the prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in Lebanon, we identified 3 multidrug-resistant cases and 3 extensively drug-resistant TB cases in refugees, migrants, and 1 Lebanon resident. Enhanced diagnostics, particularly in major destinations for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrant workers, can inform treatment decisions and may help prevent the spread of drug-resistant TB.

Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 anti-Spike antibody levels and breakthrough infection risk among vaccinated adults in North Lebanon.

Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has swiftly propagated, triggering a competitive race among medical firms to forge vaccines that thwart the infection. Lebanon initiated its vaccination campaign on February 14, 2021. Despite numerous studies conducted to elucidate the characteristics of immune responses elicited by vaccination, the topic remains unclear. Here, we aimed to track the progression of anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers at two-time points (T1: shortly after the second vaccination dose, T2: six months later) within a cohort of 201 adults who received Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2), AstraZeneca, or Sputnik V vaccines in North Lebanon. Blood specimens were obtained from participants, and antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 were quantified through the Elecsys-Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S assay (Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland). We used univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression models to predict determinants influencing the decline in immune response and the occurrence of breakthrough infections among vaccinated patients. Among the 201 participants, 141 exhibited unchanging levels of antibody titers between the two sample collections, 55 displayed waning antibody titers, and only five participants demonstrated heightened antibody levels. Notably, age emerged as the sole variable significantly linked to the waning immune response. Moreover, the BNT162b2 vaccine exhibited significantly higher efficacy concerning the occurrence of breakthrough infections when compared with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Overall, our study reflected the immune status of a sample of vaccinated adults in North Lebanon. Further studies on a larger scale are needed at the national level to follow the immune response after vaccination, especially after the addition of the third vaccination dose.

Targeting BCL2 family in human myeloid dendritic cells: a challenge to cure diseases with chronic inflammations associated with bone loss.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) are common and rare diseases, respectively. They associate myeloid cell recruitment and survival in inflammatory conditions with tissue destruction and bone resorption. Manipulating dendritic cell (DC), and, especially, regulating their half-life and fusion, is a challenge. Indeed, these myeloid cells display pathogenic roles in both diseases and may be an important source of precursors for differentiation of osteoclasts, the bone-resorbing multinucleated giant cells. We have recently documented that the proinflammatory cytokine IL-17A regulates long-term survival of DC by inducing BCL2A1 expression, in addition to the constitutive MCL1 expression. We summarize bibliography of the BCL2 family members and their therapeutic targeting, with a special emphasis on MCL1 and BCL2A1, discussing their potential impact on RA and LCH. Our recent knowledge in the survival pathway, which is activated to perform DC fusion in the presence of IL-17A, suggests that targeting MCL1 and BCL2A1 in infiltrating DC may affect the clinical outcomes in RA and LCH. The development of new therapies, interfering with MCL1 and BCL2A1 expression, to target long-term surviving inflammatory DC should be translated into preclinical studies with the aim to increase the well-being of patients with RA and LCH.

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori among dyspeptic patients in northern Lebanon: a 6-year retrospective study in two tertiary hospitals.

Helicobacter pylori causes chronic gastritis and plays a significant role in duodenal/gastric ulcer disease and gastric cancer. Its prevalence varies among different populations and geographical areas. Here, in a hospital-based retrospective study, we investigated the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection in northern Lebanon. We examined the records of 4000 consecutive dyspeptic patients attending 2 tertiary care centres in the North (Tripoli) and Akkar (Halba) governorates. Seropositivity for H. pylori was determined using enzyme immunoassays investigating specific anti- H. pylori IgG antibodies. The association of infection with the available patients' demographic characteristics was also evaluated. The mean age of our study population was 36.9±16.6 years. With 2486 female and 1514 male subjects, the overall female/male ratio was 1.64. In total, H. pylori seropositivity was detected in 1367/4000 (34.2 %) tested individuals. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that H. pylori infection is less prevalent in female than in male examined patients [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 0.84; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.73-0.96; P<0.013]. Seroprevalence gradually increased with age - from 14.6 % in patients below 18 years to 42.9 % in those above 49 years - and was significantly higher among Akkar patients compared to those from the North governorate: 49.6 versus 28.7 %, respectively (P<0.001). Overall, a third of symptomatic patients in northern Lebanon are infected with H. pylori . However, the prevalence of infection was markedly different in close geographical zones in this region. Additional screening studies using different screening methods are needed in the future to determine the accurate prevalence of this bacterium and its clinical implications to establish efficient national intervention strategies.

Trends in the epidemiology of dermatophytosis in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Dermatophytosis corresponds to a broad series of infections, mostly superficial, caused by a group of keratinophilic and keratinolytic filamentous fungi called dermatophytes. These mycoses are currently considered to be a major public health concern worldwide, particularly in developing countries such as those in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Here we compiled and discussed existing epidemiologic data on these infections in the MENA region. Most of the available studies were based on conventional diagnostic strategies and were published before the last taxonomic revision of dermatophytes. This has led to misidentifications, which might have resulted in the underestimation of the real burden of these infections in the MENA countries. Our analysis of the available literature highlights an urgent need for further studies based on reliable diagnostic tools and standard susceptibility testing methods for dermatophytosis, which represents a major challenge for these countries. This is crucial for guiding appropriate interventions and activating antifungal stewardship programs in the future.

The Role of Lebanon in the COVID-19 Butterfly Effect: The B.1.398 Example.

In the present study, we provide a retrospective genomic surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Lebanon; we newly sequence the viral genomes of 200 nasopharyngeal samples collected between July 2020 and February 2021 from patients in different regions of Lebanon and from travelers crossing the Lebanese-Syrian border, and we also analyze the Lebanese genomic dataset available at GISAID. Our results show that SARS-CoV-2 infections in Lebanon during this period were shaped by the turnovers of four dominant SARS-CoV-2 lineages, with B.1.398 being the first to thoroughly dominate. Lebanon acted as a dispersal center of B.1.398 to other countries, with intercontinental transmissions being more common than within-continent. Within the country, the district of Tripoli, which was the source of 43% of the total B.1.398 sequences in our study, was identified as being an important source of dispersal in the country. In conclusion, our findings exemplify the butterfly effect, by which a lineage that emerges in a small area can be spread around the world, and highlight the potential role of developing countries in the emergence of new variants.

Antimicrobial resistance in the protracted Syrian conflict: halting a war in the war.

The Syrian conflict has damaged key infrastructure and indirectly affected almost all parts of the Middle East and Europe, with no end in sight. Exhausting conditions created by the Syrian crisis and related massive displacement promote the emergence of numerous public health problems that fuel antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development. Here, we explore the current situation of the Syrian displaced population, and AMR inside Syria and among refugees in host countries. We then suggest a roadmap of selected key interventions and strategies to address the threat of AMR in the context of the Syrian crisis. These recommendations are intended to urge health policy-makers in governments and international health organizations to optimize and push for implementing an effective policy taking into consideration the current obstacles.

Neutralizing Anti-IL-17A Antibody Demonstrates Preclinical Activity Enhanced by Vinblastine in Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is an inflammatory myeloid neoplasm characterised by the accumulation into granulomas of apoptosis-resistant pathological dendritic cells (LCH-DCs). LCH outcome ranges from self-resolving to fatal. Having previously shown that, (i) monocyte-derived DCs (Mo-DCs) from LCH patients differentiate into abnormal and pro-inflammatory IL-17A-producing DCs, and (ii) recombinant IL-17A induces survival and chemoresistance of healthy Mo-DCs, we investigated the link between IL-17A and resistance to apoptosis of LCH-DCs. In LCH granulomas, we uncovered the strong expression of BCL2A1 (alias BFL1), an anti-apoptotic BCL2 family member. In vitro, intracellular IL-17A expression was correlated with BCL2A1 expression and survival of Mo-DCs from LCH patients. Based on the chemotherapeutic drugs routinely used as first or second line LCH therapy, we treated these cells with vinblastine, or cytarabine and cladribine. Our preclinical results indicate that high doses of these drugs decreased the expression of Mcl-1, the main anti-apoptotic BCL2 family member for myeloid cells, and killed Mo-DCs from LCH patients ex vivo, without affecting BCL2A1 expression. Conversely, neutralizing anti-IL-17A antibodies decreased BCL2A1 expression, the downregulation of which lowered the survival rate of Mo-DCs from LCH patients. Interestingly, the in vitro combination of low-dose vinblastine with neutralizing anti-IL-17A antibodies killed Mo-DCs from LCH patients. In conclusion, we show that BCL2A1 expression induced by IL-17A links the inflammatory environment to the unusual pro-survival gene activation in LCH-DCs. Finally, these preclinical data support that targeting both Mcl-1 and BCL2A1 with low-dose vinblastine and anti-IL-17A biotherapy may represent a synergistic combination for managing recurrent or severe forms of LCH.

Multi-country evaluation of RISK6, a 6-gene blood transcriptomic signature, for tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

There is a crucial need for non-sputum-based TB tests. Here, we evaluate the performance of RISK6, a human-blood transcriptomic signature, for TB screening, triage and treatment monitoring. RISK6 performance was also compared to that of two IGRAs: one based on RD1 antigens (QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus, QFT-P, Qiagen) and one on recombinant M. tuberculosis HBHA expressed in Mycobacterium smegmatis (IGRA-rmsHBHA). In this multicenter prospective nested case-control study conducted in Bangladesh, Georgia, Lebanon and Madagascar, adult non-immunocompromised patients with bacteriologically confirmed active pulmonary TB (ATB), latent TB infection (LTBI) and healthy donors (HD) were enrolled. ATB patients were followed-up during and after treatment. Blood RISK6 scores were assessed using quantitative real-time PCR and evaluated by area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC AUC). RISK6 performance to discriminate ATB from HD reached an AUC of 0.94 (95% CI 0.89-0.99), with 90.9% sensitivity and 87.8% specificity, thus achieving the minimal WHO target product profile for a non-sputum-based TB screening test. Besides, RISK6 yielded an AUC of 0.93 (95% CI 0.85-1) with 90.9% sensitivity and 88.5% specificity for discriminating ATB from LTBI. Moreover, RISK6 showed higher performance (AUC 0.90, 95% CI 0.85-0.94) than IGRA-rmsHBHA (AUC 0.75, 95% CI 0.69-0.82) to differentiate TB infection stages. Finally, RISK6 signature scores significantly decreased after 2 months of TB treatment and continued to decrease gradually until the end of treatment reaching scores obtained in HD. We confirmed the performance of RISK6 signature as a triage TB test and its utility for treatment monitoring.

COVID-19 in children: Could pertussis vaccine play the protective role?

While COVID-19 continues to spread across the globe, diligent efforts are made to understand its attributes and dynamics to help develop treatment and prevention measures. The paradox pertaining to children being the least affected by severe illness poses exciting opportunities to investigate potential protective factors. In this paper, we propose that childhood vaccination against pertussis (whooping cough) might play a non-specific protective role against COVID-19 through heterologous adaptive responses in this young population. Pertussis is a vaccine-preventable infectious disease of the respiratory tract and it shares many similarities with COVID-19 including transmission and clinical features. Although pertussis is caused by a bacterium (Bordetella pertussis) while COVID-19 is a viral infection (SARS-CoV-2), previous data showed that cross-reactivity and heterologous adaptive responses can be seen with unrelated agents of highly divergent groups, such as between bacteria and viruses. While we build the arguments of this hypothesis on theoretical and previous empirical evidence, we also outline suggested lines of research from different fields to test its credibility. Besides, we highlight some concerns that may arise when attempting to consider such an approach as a potential public health preventive intervention against COVID-19.

Comparison of three different ELISAs for the detection of recombinant, native and plasma IL-17A.

Plasma IL-17A detection in Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) is currently a source of debate. Indeed, 500-P07G (PeproTech) and 41802 (R&D Systems) anti-IL-17A antibodies have been suspected to recognize nonspecific proteins. To resolve this discrepancy, we set up two new ELISAs by using 41802 or neutralizing eBio64CAP17 (eBioscience) capture monoclonal antibodies that we compared to the commercial PeproTech ELISA kit. The three ELISAs, called E_500-P07G, E_41802 and E_eBio64CAP17, differ in their anti-IL-17A capture antibodies: either polyclonal, monoclonal or neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, respectively. Here, we show that these ELISAs had a similar capacity to specifically detect recombinant or native human IL-17A. However, a significantly lower plasma IL-17A detection was obtained with E_41802 compared to the two other ELISAs. Both E_500-P07G and E_eBio64CAP17 showed similar results. Consequently, we propose that the use of E_500-P07G and E_eBio64CAP17 may ensure more accurate and reliable results in the context of LCH studies. The highest plasma IL-17A levels in LCH patients compared to controls detected by both E_500-P07G and E_eBio64CAP17 ELISAs led us to propose these latter as reference techniques to investigate IL-17A as a potential new biomarker in LCH.•The customization of a new E_eBio64CAP17 ELISA is suitable to detect human IL-17A.•E_eBio64CAP17 ELISA protocol differs only in the anti-IL-17A capture antibody compared to the commercial E_500-P07G PeproTech kit.•Data generated using the E_eBio64CAP17 ELISA are consistent with the PeproTech kit.

Prevalence of anti-hepatitis E virus IgG antibodies in sera from hemodialysis patients in Tripoli, Lebanon.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important global public health concern. Several studies reported a higher HEV prevalence in patients undergoing regular hemodialysis (HD). In Lebanon, the epidemiology of HEV among HD patients has never been investigated previously. In this study, we examine the seroprevalence of HEV infection among 171 HD patients recruited from three hospital dialysis units in Tripoli, North Lebanon. Prevalence of anti-HEV IgG antibodies was evaluated in participant's sera using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The association of socio-demographic and clinical parameters with HEV infection in patients was also evaluated. Overall, 96 women and 75 men were enrolled in this study. Anti-HEV IgG antibodies were found positive in 37/171 HD patients showing a positivity rate of 21.63%. Among all examined variables, only the age of patients was significantly associated with seropositivity (P = 0.001). This first epidemiological study reveals a high seroprevalence of HEV infection among Lebanese HD patients. However, further evaluations that enroll larger samples and include control groups are required to identify exact causative factors of the important seropositivity rate in this population.

Association of baseline white blood cell counts with tuberculosis treatment outcome: a prospective multicentered cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading infectious cause of death in the world. Cheaper and more accessible TB treatment monitoring methods are needed. Here, we evaluated white blood cell (WBC) absolute counts, lymphocyte, and monocyte proportions during TB treatment, and characterized their association with treatment failure. METHODS: This multicentered prospective cohort study was based in Bangladesh, Georgia, Lebanon, Madagascar, and Paraguay. Adult, non-immunocompromised patients with culture-confirmed pulmonary TB were included and followed up after two months of treatment and at the end of therapy. Blood counts were compared to treatment outcome using descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analyses. RESULTS: Between December 2017 and August 2020, 198 participants were enrolled, and 152 completed treatment, including 28 (18.5%) drug-resistant patients. The rate of cure at the end of treatment was 90.8% (138/152). WBC absolute counts decreased, and lymphocyte proportions increased throughout treatment. In multivariate analyses, baseline high WBC counts and low lymphocyte proportions were associated with positive sputum culture results at the end of treatment (WBC > 11,450 cells/mm3: p = 0.048; lymphocytes <16.0%: p = 0.039; WBC > 11,450 cells/mm3 and lymphocytes <16.0%: p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: High WBC counts and low lymphocyte proportions at baseline are significantly associated with the risk of TB treatment failure.

Relevance of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus and Heparin-Binding Hemagglutinin Interferon-γ Release Assays for Monitoring of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Clearance: A Multicentered Study.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading infectious cause of death. To improve treatment efficacy, quicker monitoring methods are needed. The objective of this study was to monitor the response to a heparin-binding hemagglutinin (HBHA) interferon-γ (IFN-γ) release assay (IGRA) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-P) and to analyze plasma IFN-γ levels according to sputum culture conversion and immune cell counts during treatment. Methods: This multicentered cohort study was based in Bangladesh, Georgia, Lebanon, Madagascar, and Paraguay. Adult, non-immunocompromised patients with culture-confirmed pulmonary TB were included. Patients were followed up at baseline (T0), after two months of treatment (T1), and at the end of therapy (T2). Clinical data and blood samples were collected at each timepoint. Whole blood samples were stimulated with QFT-P antigens or recombinant methylated Mycobacterium tuberculosis HBHA (produced in Mycobacterium smegmatis; rmsHBHA). Plasma IFN-γ levels were then assessed by ELISA. Findings: Between December 2017 and September 2020, 132 participants completed treatment, including 28 (21.2%) drug-resistant patients. rmsHBHA IFN-γ increased significantly throughout treatment (0.086 IU/ml at T0 vs. 1.03 IU/ml at T2, p < 0.001) while QFT-P IFN-γ remained constant (TB1: 0.53 IU/ml at T0 vs. 0.63 IU/ml at T2, p = 0.13). Patients with low lymphocyte percentages (<14%) or high neutrophil percentages (>79%) at baseline had significantly lower IFN-γ responses to QFT-P and rmsHBHA at T0 and T1. In a small group of slow converters (patients with positive cultures at T1; n = 16), we observed a consistent clinical pattern at baseline (high neutrophil percentages, low lymphocyte percentages and BMI, low TB1, TB2, and MIT IFN-γ responses) and low rmsHBHA IFN-γ at T1 and T2. However, the accuracy of the QFT-P and rmsHBHA IGRAs compared to culture throughout treatment was low (40 and 65% respectively). Combining both tests improved their sensitivity and accuracy (70-80%) but not their specificity (<30%). Conclusion: We showed that QFT-P and rmsHBHA IFN-γ responses were associated with rates of sputum culture conversion. Our results support a growing body of evidence suggesting that rmsHBHA IFN-γ discriminates between the different stages of TB, from active disease to controlled infection. However, further work is needed to confirm the specificity of QFT-P and rmsHBHA IGRAs for treatment monitoring.

First report on seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep and goats in North Lebanon.

INTRODUCTION: Toxoplasmosis is of dual importance in both public and veterinary health due to the respective risk of transplacental transmission in primo-infected pregnant women and economic losses caused by abortions in mammals. One of the main routes of Toxoplasma gondii transmission to humans is the consumption of raw or undercooked meats containing parasitic cysts. Here, we performed the first epidemiological study to determine the seroprevalence and the risk factors of toxoplasmosis in livestock in Lebanon. METHODOLOGY: Using a modified agglutination test with a cut-off of 1:40, we tested the positivity rate of Immunoglobulin G antibodies in the sera of 100 sheep and 80 goats collected from 18 different livestock farms located in North Lebanon between March and June 2018. RESULTS: Anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies were detected in 42% of sheep and 34% of goats. Adults (> 1 year) were significantly more infected by T. gondii than the lambs (< 1 year) in both species (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicated that food animals are highly exposed to T. gondii in Lebanon and could be potentially a major risk factor of T. gondii infection to humans. Consequently, national prophylactic strategies should be implemented to control and to prevent T. gondii transmission between animals and humans.