Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection in individuals occupationally exposed to livestock and raw meat: A case–control study

BACKGROUND: The expectancy of Toxoplasma gondii transmitted from livestock and raw meat to humans is a public health problem and is an example of the One Health theory. OBJECTIVES: This survey aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors related to this common infection in individuals occupationally exposed (IOE) to livestock, raw meat and viscera in industrial slaughterhouses and livestock fields in Isfahan province, central Iran. METHODS: This study is a case–control survey carried out on the 401 serum samples of IOE (including slaughterhouse workers, butchers, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, livestock farmers and farm workers) compared to 401 archived samples of the general population (that all matched with cases by region, age and gender). All 802 samples were investigated for anti‐T. gondii IgM and anti‐T. gondii IgG using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: A statistically significant higher anti‐T. gondii IgG occurrence (p < 0.001) was observed in IOE compared to the control group (46.1% vs. 31.4%). According to our knowledge, this is the first case–control study on the seroprevalence of anti‐T. gondii in IOE to livestock in central Iran. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show a potentially significant association between T. gondii seropositivity and occupational exposure to livestock. Therefore, it is essential to develop guidelines for preventing disease transmission among IOE to livestock, raw meat and viscera in industrial slaughterhouses and livestock fields.