Investigation of a Toxoplasmosis Outbreak in a Rural Family in Iguaraçu, PR, Brazil

Introduction: Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which is transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food or water, ingestion of infected meat, or via transplacental transmission. Humans act as intermediate hosts, while felines serve as the definitive hosts. Objective: To investigate an outbreak of toxoplasmosis affecting a family residing in the rural area of Iguaraçu, Paraná; southern Brazil. Method: DNA analysis of T. gondii was performed on soil, water, and cat feces samples collected at the outbreak site. The samples were sent to the Parasitology Laboratory of the State University of Maringá, PR, and the affected individuals were monitored in an outpatient setting. Results: A toxoplasmosis outbreak was confirmed in a family residing in a rural area, leading to severe outcomes, including miscarriage and ocular manifestations of the disease. The environment exhibited several risk factors, such as the presence of cats, chickens, pigs, cows, a ground-level water tank, a well, and untreated sewage discharged directly into a nearby river. The residents consumed water from both the tank and the well. However, environmental analysis using conventional PCR did not detect T. gondii DNA in the water, soil, or cat feces samples. Conclusion: The infection is likely attributed to an external factor that has not yet been investigated or to the limited sensitivity of the collected samples for detection via PCR. This underscores the difficulties in identifying T. gondii oocysts in environmental samples and highlights the necessity of conducting further studies in the region, along with a thorough investigation into the family's food sources.