Geospatial Distribution of Toxoplasmosis Prevalence among Livestock, Pets and Humans in China, 1984-2020

Abstract Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an important foodborne zoonotic parasite with respect to abortion, intracranial calcifications, congenital hydrocephalus, retinochoroiditis, and toxoplasmic encephalitis in severely immunosuppressed individuals. Undercooked/raw meat containing cyst-stage bradyzoites and contaminated pets are presumed to constitute a major source of human infection. Although many seroprevalence studies have been performed in humans and different animal species in China, data on the geospatial distribution of toxoplasmosis prevalence are extremely scarce. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and geospatial distribution of toxoplasmosis among livestock, pets and humans in China using geographic information system (GIS) for the prevention and control of toxoplasmosis.Methods: This article is based on the data from PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Baidu Scholar databases from 1984 up to 2020 regarding prevalence data of toxoplasmosis among livestock (sheep and goats, swines, cattle and yaks), pets (cats, dogs) and humans in China. Geospatial distribution of the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in these hosts was performed using the GIS visualization techniques.Results: Analysis revealed wide geospatial variation of toxoplasmosis in China. The estimated pooled seroprevalence of T. gondii was ranged from 3.98% to 43.02% among sheep and goats in China, 0.75% to 30.34% in cattle and yaks, 10.45% to 66.47% in swines, 2.50% to 60.00% in cats, 0.56% to 27.65% in dogs, and 0.72% to 23.41% in humans. The higher seroprevalences of T. gondii were observed in districts Chongqing, Zhejiang and Beijing in sheep and goats. The infection rates of T. gondii in cattle and yaks were higher in districts Guizhou, Zhejiang and Chongqing. Moreover, the swines from districts Chongqing and Guizhou were also most severely infected with T. gondii. In cats, districts Shanxi, Hebei and Yunnan had higher seroprevalences of T. gondii and, the infections among dogs were higher in districts Yunnan and Hebei as well. Furthermore, higher infection pressure of T. gondii exists in districts Taiwan and Tibet in humans.Conclusion: The present study indicated that the infection with T. gondii was widely spread in China, with a wide range of variation. The investigation of T. gondii infection in livestock, pets and humans can be useful for assessing T. gondii environmental contamination and the risk for public health. Certain measures can be taken to prevent the prevalence of T. gondii infection in China, such as strengthening the management of livestock farms, keeping the barn clean, preventing feline excreta from polluting environment, using filtered water or water boiling, wearing gloves when handling raw meat and improving the practice of good hand hygiene.