Isabella Braghin Ferreira

(1) Background: Brazil features one of the largest recycling workforces worldwide, with around 800,000 informal waste pickers, mostly living in urban areas of major cities and dealing with low income and precarious working conditions. This context of vulnerability may lead to a high risk of food insecurity, which may be associated with infectious diseases, particularly toxocariasis, a cosmopolitan neglected parasitic zoonosis with high seroprevalence in tropical countries. (2) Methods: Accordingly, this study assessed Toxocara spp. seropositivity and associated risk factors (including food insecurity) in recycling workers of Curitiba, a major Brazilian (fully urban) city currently ranked 8th in population with 1.83 million habitants, 7th in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and 10th in Human Development Index (HDI) with 0.823 (very high), out of 5569 Brazilian cities. Recycling and non-recycling (used as population control) workers living in the same neighborhood were invited, voluntarily signed consent forms, and had blood serum samples collected and tested by ELISA for detecting anti-Toxocara spp. (IgG) antibodies; in addition, an epidemiological questionnaire (socioeconomic characteristics, owning dog/cat, food and hygiene habits) was applied. (3) Results: Overall, 95/177 (53.7%) recycling and 38/100 (38.0%) non-recycling workers tested positive by ELISA, with recycling workers more likely seropositive than non-recycling population (53.7% vs. 38.0%; OR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.15–3.12%). Food insecurity (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.04–3.91) and low (Toxocara spp. seropositivity by multivariate analysis. As expected, cohabitation with both dogs and cats was also significantly associated with seropositivity (OR = 3.75, 95% CI: 1.48–9.75). However, other assessed variables (gender, age, ethnicity, hygienic habits, contact with soil, raw meat ingestion) were not associated with seropositivity. (4) Conclusions: The study herein has filled a gap regarding toxocariasis in vulnerable populations and suggests food insecurity as a socioeconomic indicator for Toxocara spp. seropositivity in recycling workers. Furthermore, recycling workers are at higher risk of infection and, as such, need to be prioritized in healthcare programs.

Toxocariasis, a geohelminthiasis caused by Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati nematodes, has an estimated 19% seroprevalence worldwide. Although children have been considered more prone to infection, adults and the elderly may also be considered at risk. Accordingly, the present study aimed to assess the associated risk factors for Toxocara spp. seropositivity in a population of 290 individuals over 50 years old, attended by the Public Health System in western São Paulo state. Socioepidemiological information was obtained by a semi-structured questionnaire, a blood (serum) sample, and a neurocognitive function assessment by the 10-point cognitive screener (10-CS). Overall, 89/290 (30.7%; 95% CI: 25.7–36.2%) individuals presented anti-Toxocara spp. IgG antibodies by ELISA. Multivariate analysis revealed that individuals raising both dogs and cats were 3-fold more likely to be seropositive than the ones without any pet (p = 0.002), while educational level resulted in an associated protective factor (p = 0.001). No seropositivity influence was observed for the other evaluated variables, including age, gender, monthly income, consumption of drinkable water or raw/undercooked meat, having a dirty floor at home, contact with soil, washing vegetables and hands before meals, and onychophagy. Although seropositivity was not statistically associated with dementia (p = 0.198) and neuropsychiatric disorder (p = 0.440), results herein indicated toxocariasis as a likely under-reported and neglected infection in the older human population. As an immunosenescence risk group that should be continuously monitored, elderly pet owners may be at risk and should be extra careful with self-hygiene and pet deworming, particularly when owning multiple pet species, to reduce the risk of toxocariasis infection.

Background: Brazil has a high prevalence of toxoplasmosis. However, there is a gap in comparing seroprevalence for Toxoplasma gondii across different environments, particularly among pregnant residents of rural and urban areas. Methods: The prevalence of IgG and IgM for T. gondii was compared among pregnant residents of the urban, peri-urban, and rural settlement areas in a municipality in southeastern Brazil. Information regarding age and area of residence was compiled from January 2015 to December 2022. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the age and area of residence as risk factors. Results: A total of 1614 examinations were recorded, revealing 54.0% seropositivity, which was highest in the rural settlement (61.1%), followed by the peri-urban area (55.9%), and lowest in the urban area (49.2%). Conclusions: The high prevalence of IgG and presence of IgM in pregnant residents of rural, peri-urban, and urban areas highlights the significance of the results obtained for strengthening maternal health programs aimed at preventing toxoplasmosis, regardless of their residence.

Background: Toxocariasis has been listed among the most neglected parasitic diseases worldwide, with approximately one fifth of the global population exposed, particularly those living under poverty. In Brazil, communities of descendants of enslaved blacks (quilombola) have historically had some of the highest rates of vulnerability and poverty, characterized by lack of health assistance, poor quality of life, and nutritional insecurity. Methods: A cross-sectional sampling of quilombola individuals living in four communities of southern Brazil, as well as their dogs and the soil, was carried out from December 2021 to March 2022. Sociodemographic and other information such as water source, alimentary habits, and dog and cat ownership were gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire for assessing toxocariasis risk factors. Human serum samples were tested by ELISA for anti-Toxocara spp. IgG antibody detection was carried out on dog feces and hair, and soil samples were surveyed for presence of Toxocara spp. eggs. Results: Overall, 172/208 individuals (82.7%, 95% CI = 77.0–87.2) were seropositive, the highest seroprevalence rate to date in Brazil. Male gender (P = 0.029), educational level (P = 0.026), and drinking water source (P = 0.043) were associated with seropositivity by univariate analysis. Final logistic regression revealed increased odds (P = 0.017, OR = 7.6, 95% CI = 1.5–42.7) to have seropositivity in individuals > 50 years old (< 10 years old). As expected, individuals with soil contact were more likely seropositive (P = 0.038, OR = 4.4, 95% CI = 1.1–18.8). Although retrieved in only 5/96 (5.2%) dog feces, Toxocara spp. eggs were found in 18/60 (30.0%) soil samples. Conclusions: The high vulnerability and seroprevalence observed in quilombola communities clearly demand a One Health approach for detection, monitoring, and prevention of infection by Toxocara spp. in both human and dog populations. Graphical