Knowledge and Practices of Toxoplasmosis among Clinical Laboratory Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Durango, Mexico
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design and Population Studied
2.2. Questionnaire
2.3. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. General Data of Participants
3.1.1. Knowledge of the Parasite and Clinical Aspects of Toxoplasmosis
3.1.2. Knowledge of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Toxoplasmosis
3.1.3. Knowledge of the Epidemiology of Toxoplasmosis
3.1.4. Practices about Toxoplasmosis
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Characteristic | No. | % |
---|---|---|
Workplace | ||
Durango | 109 | 56.8 |
Other Mexican State | 83 | 43.2 |
Type of training | ||
Chemist or biologist | 116 | 60.4 |
Laboratory technician | 63 | 32.8 |
Physician | 3 | 1.6 |
Other * | 10 | 5.2 |
Age (years old) | ||
<0 | 89 | 46.4 |
30–50 | 67 | 34.9 |
>50 | 32 | 16.6 |
Unknown | 4 | 2.1 |
Gender | ||
Female | 141 | 73.4 |
Male | 51 | 26.6 |
Type of work area | ||
Urban | 180 | 93.8 |
Suburban | 10 | 5.2 |
Rural | 2 | 1.0 |
Type of professional work | ||
Public only | 180 | 93.8 |
Private only | 10 | 5.2 |
Public and private | 2 | 1 |
Amount of seniority (years) | ||
<10 | 113 | 58.9 |
10–20 | 43 | 22.4 |
>0 | 36 | 18.8 |
Questions and Answers | No. | % |
---|---|---|
Toxoplasma gondii is: | ||
A virus | 6 | 3.1 |
A bacterium | 6 | 3.1 |
A parasite | 172 | 89.6 |
A fungus | 4 | 2.1 |
I do not know. | 4 | 2.1 |
Toxoplasma gondii is distributed worldwide. | ||
False | 29 | 15.1 |
True | 147 | 76.6 |
I do not know. | 16 | 8.3 |
Toxoplasma gondii infects a wide range of animals and birds. | ||
False | 82 | 42.7 |
True | 86 | 44.8 |
I do not know. | 24 | 12.5 |
Which animals are definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondii? | ||
Birds | 19 | 9.9 |
Felids | 161 | 83.8 |
Reptiles | 4 | 2.1 |
Rodents | 7 | 3.6 |
I do not know. | 13 | 6.8 |
Which of the following clinical manifestations correspond to toxoplasmosis. | ||
Lymphadenopathy | 55 | 28.6 |
Ocular disease | 52 | 27.1 |
Encephalitis | 85 | 44.3 |
I do not know. | 39 | 20.3 |
Questions and Answers | No. | % |
---|---|---|
Which of the following interpretations about the laboratory diagnosis of infection with Toxoplasma gondii are correct? | ||
The demonstration of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM in a pregnant woman means invariably that infection was acquired during pregnancy. | 69 | 35.9 |
A positive test for IgG with a negative test for IgM anti-Toxoplasma means a chronic infection. | 63 | 32.8 |
A negative test for IgG with a positive test for IgM anti-Toxoplasma is conclusive of acute infection. | 53 | 27.6 |
I do not know. | 45 | 23.4 |
The routine test for detection of anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies in serum yields a high number of false positive results. | ||
False | 50 | 26.0 |
True | 62 | 32.3 |
I do not know. | 80 | 41.7 |
Do you know what the anti-Toxoplasma IgG avidity test is? | ||
Yes | 19 | 9.9 |
No | 173 | 90.1 |
What is the anti-Toxoplasma IgG avidity test used for? | ||
Good answer | 5 | 2.6 |
Wrong answer | 13 | 6.8 |
I do not know. | 174 | 90.6 |
Do you know another laboratory test (not mentioned earlier) for the diagnosis of infection with Toxoplasma gondii? | ||
Yes | 31 | 16.1 |
No | 161 | 83.9 |
If yes, which tests? | ||
No answer | 7 | 22.6 |
Good answer | 14 | 45.2 |
Wrong answer | 10 | 32.2 |
The demonstration of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies in the serum of a pregnant woman is enough reason to provide treatment. | ||
False | 36 | 18.8 |
True | 107 | 55.7 |
I do not know. | 49 | 25.5 |
The demonstration of anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies without IgG in the serum of a pregnant woman is enough reason to provide treatment. | ||
False | 56 | 29.2 |
True | 81 | 42.2 |
I do not know. | 55 | 28.6 |
Questions and Answers | No. | % |
---|---|---|
Infection with Toxoplasma gondii can be acquired by? | ||
Ingestion of water | 25 | 13.0 |
Ingestion of raw or undercooked meat | 28 | 14.6 |
Ingestion of unwashed fruits or vegetables | 26 | 13.5 |
Blood transfusion and organ transplantation | 52 | 27.1 |
Contact with cats | 96 | 50 |
I do not know. | 9 | 4.7 |
It is estimated that the world prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection is: | ||
Up to 10% of the population | 47 | 24.5 |
Up to one-third of the population | 38 | 19.8 |
Up to one-half of the population | 7 | 3.6 |
Up to 75% of the population | 9 | 4.7 |
I do not know. | 91 | 47.4 |
Questions and Answers | No. | % |
---|---|---|
In the laboratory where you work, are tests for detection of infection with Toxoplasma gondii performed? | ||
Yes | 30 | 15.6 |
No | 162 | 84.4 |
Which tests are used in your laboratory for detection of infection with Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women? | ||
None | 55 | 28.6 |
Anti-Toxoplasma IgG only | 17 | 8.9 |
Anti-Toxoplasma IgM only | 8 | 4.2 |
Anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM | 110 | 57.3 |
Other | 2 | 1 |
If other, which one? | ||
No answer | 1 | 0.5 |
Good answer | 0 | 0 |
Wrong answer | 1 | 0.5 |
Is any confirmatory test for Toxoplasma gondii infection performed? | ||
Yes | 14 | 7.3 |
No | 178 | 92.7 |
If yes, which one? | ||
No answer | 9 | 64.3 |
Good answer | 4 | 28.6 |
Wrong answer | 1 | 7.1 |
Are any molecular tests for Toxoplasma gondii infection performed? | ||
Yes | 16 | 8.3 |
No | 176 | 91.7 |
If yes, which one? | ||
No answer | 7 | 43.7 |
Good answer | 9 | 56.3 |
Wrong answer | 0 | 0 |
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Share and Cite
Alvarado-Esquivel, C.; Sánchez-Anguiano, L.F.; Berumen-Segovia, L.O.; Hernández-Tinoco, J.; Rico-Almochantaf, Y.D.R.; Cisneros-Camacho, A.; Cisneros-Martínez, J.A. Knowledge and Practices of Toxoplasmosis among Clinical Laboratory Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Durango, Mexico. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 1413. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14111413
Alvarado-Esquivel C, Sánchez-Anguiano LF, Berumen-Segovia LO, Hernández-Tinoco J, Rico-Almochantaf YDR, Cisneros-Camacho A, Cisneros-Martínez JA. Knowledge and Practices of Toxoplasmosis among Clinical Laboratory Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Durango, Mexico. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2017; 14(11):1413. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14111413
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlvarado-Esquivel, Cosme, Luis Francisco Sánchez-Anguiano, Luis Omar Berumen-Segovia, Jesús Hernández-Tinoco, Yazmin Del Rosario Rico-Almochantaf, Alfredo Cisneros-Camacho, and Jorge Arturo Cisneros-Martínez. 2017. "Knowledge and Practices of Toxoplasmosis among Clinical Laboratory Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Durango, Mexico" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 14, no. 11: 1413. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14111413