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. 2021 Apr 5;7(4):e06659.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06659. eCollection 2021 Apr.

High frequency of ocular toxoplasmosis in Quindío, Colombia and risk factors related to the infection

Jorge Enrique Gómez-Marín  1 , Juliana Muñoz-Ortiz  2 , Manuela Mejía-Oquendo  1 , José Y Arteaga-Rivera  2 , Nicolás Rivera-Valdivia  2 , María Cristina Bohórquez-Granados  2 , Stefany Velasco-Velásquez  1 , Gabriela Castaño-de-la-Torre  3 , John Alejandro Acosta-Dávila  1 , Laura Lorena García-López  1 , Elizabeth Torres-Morales  1 , Mónica Vargas  1 , Juan David Valencia  1 , Daniel Celis-Giraldo  1 , Alejandra de-la-Torre  4
Affiliations

High frequency of ocular toxoplasmosis in Quindío, Colombia and risk factors related to the infection

Jorge Enrique Gómez-Marín et al. Heliyon. .

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the frequency of retinochoroidal lesions by ocular toxoplasmosis and their relationships with risk factors, in residents of two districts with high exposure to Toxoplasma, in Armenia-Quindío, Colombia.

Methods: Cross-sectional analyses of fundoscopy screening, serological tests, and questionnaires were performed to determine risk factors associated with ocular toxoplasmosis retinochoroidal lesions. Differences in proportions were analyzed using the chi-squared test.

Results: Of 161 individuals examined, 17 (10.5%) exhibited retinochoroidal scars suggestive of old inactive Toxoplasma gondii infection. All 17 individuals were seropositive for T. gondii antibodies. Consumption of bottled water was protective against T. gondii infection among individuals in this study. There were no specific epidemiological risk factors associated with ocular toxoplasmosis retinochoroidal lesions.

Conclusion: Ocular toxoplasmosis is an important cause of visual impairment in Armenia-Quindío, Colombia. The consumption of boiled or bottled water is a major preventive public health measure to reduce infection by T. gondii and the subsequent onset of OT.

Keywords: Colombia; Ocular toxoplasmosis; Retinochoroiditis; Risk factors; Screening; Toxoplasma gondii.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Images of eight typical retinochoroidal scars found during indirect ophthalmoscopy in the eye fundus screening program in two districts in Armenia (Colombia) in 2019.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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