The epidemiology of Toxoplasma infection is known to vary geographically, but is also likely to vary over time, under the influence of many contributing factors. Monitoring is particularly useful in the context of preventing congenital toxoplasmosis. We took advantage of the French prenatal prevention programme to retrospectively assess changes between 2017 and 2023 in seroprevalence and incidence rates of Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women and the incidence of congenital infections. We conducted a longitudinal retrospective study including all pregnancies with known Toxoplasma status followed up at Lyon’s public maternity hospitals between 2017 and 2023 (71,922 pregnancies). We used a multivariable logistic regression model to identify factors (age-group, WHO region of origin, population density of the area of residence and parity) associated with seropositivity. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis decreased consistently from 26.4% in 2017 to 22.1% in 2023 (p = 0.003), while maternal infection incidence remained stable at 1.3/1,000 pregnancies at risk. Notably, the seroprevalence showed a linear increase with age from 18.9% in women aged 25–29 years to 38.0% in women aged ≥40 years (p < 0.001). The seroprevalence was lower in pregnant women living in rural areas [adjusted seroprevalence ratio (aPR) = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.82–0.92] and higher in multiparous women (aPR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04–1.12). This study confirms the ongoing decline in toxoplasmosis seroprevalence while seroconversions remained stable, indicating a need for more tests in seronegative women in the future. These findings highlight the need for ongoing monitoring and refinement of congenital toxoplasmosis prevention strategies in high-income countries.

Caprine tuberculosis (TB) is a zoonosis caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). Caprine TB eradication programmes are based mainly on intradermal tuberculin tests and slaughterhouse surveillance. However, the use of serological test has been extended as a potential diagnostic tool in goats through the use of serum, plasma, or even milk samples. Milk production and the antibodies (Ab) present in milk can vary depending on several circumstances. In the present study, different factors that may affect the performance of humoral TB diagnosis were analysed using goat milk samples: 1) lactation stage, 2) a recent previous skin test (booster effect) and 3) the effect of freeze-thaw cycles on milk samples preserved with azidiol. TB-infected animals (n = 44) were selected to evaluate the evolution of the Ab levels during the 6-month lactation period, along with its potential effect on the P22 ELISA results. In general, no significant changes (p = 0.079) were observed throughout the study as regards Ab levels in milk samples between consecutive analysis although the reactivity to P22 ELISA decreased when samplings were performed at the last two months of the lactation. Regarding the booster effect, the quantitative results showed a significant variation (p < 0.001) for both milk and serum samples when serological tests were carried out 15 days after the skin test. Finally, there were no significant differences (p = 0.99) in the P22 ELISA results when using milk samples preserved with azidiol that had undergone freeze-thaw cycles.

We aimed to evaluate the association between the humoral and cellular immune responses and symptomatic SARS‐CoV‐2 infection with Delta or Omicron BA.1 variants in fully vaccinated outpatients. Anti‐receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG levels and interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) release were evaluated at PCR‐diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐2 in 636 samples from negative and positive patients during Delta and Omicron BA.1 periods. Median levels of anti‐RBD IgG in positive patients were significantly lower than in negative patients for both variants (p < 0.05). The frequency of Omicron BA.1 infection in patients with anti‐RBD IgG concentrations ≥1000 binding antibody units (BAU)/mL was 51.0% and decreased to 34.4% in patients with concentrations ≥3000 BAU/mL. For Delta infection, the frequency of infection was significantly lower when applying the same anti‐RBD IgG thresholds (13.3% and 5.3% respectively, p < 0.05). In addition, individuals in the hybrid immunity group had a 4.5 times lower risk of Delta infection compared to the homologous vaccination group (aOR = 0.22, 95% CI: [0.05−0.64]. No significant decrease in the risk of Omicron BA.1 infection was observed in the hybrid group compared to the homologous group, but the risk decreased within the hybrid group as anti‐RBD IgG titers increased (aOR = 0.08, 95% CI: [0.01−0.41], p = 0.008). IFN‐γ release post‐SARS‐CoV‐2 peptide stimulation was not different between samples from patients infected (either with Delta or Omicron BA.1 variant) or not (p > 0.05). Our results show that high circulating levels of anti‐RBD IgG and hybrid immunity were independently associated with a lower risk of symptomatic SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in outpatients with differences according to the infecting variant (www.clinicaltrials.gov; ID NCT05060939).

The single and comparative intradermal tuberculin (SIT and CIT) tests are used for the ante-mortem diagnosis of caprine tuberculosis (TB). The tuberculin injection site has been associated with a different performance of the test in cattle. In contrast to that required in cattle in Europe (cervical injection), it can be carried out in the scapular region in goats. Nevertheless, there are no previous data concerning the effect of the injection site on the performance of the test in goats. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of two different inoculation sites (cervical and scapular) on the performance of the SIT/CIT tests. This was done by intradermally inoculating 309 goats from two infected herds and one TB-free herd with both avian and bovine PPDs in the mid-cervical and scapular regions. None of the animals from the TB-free herd had positive reactions, and the number of reactors was not significantly higher, regardless of the inoculation site, in the high and low prevalence herds. However, significantly higher increases in skin fold thickness were observed on the cervical site when compared to the scapular site after the avian and bovine PPD inoculations in the TB-free herd (p < 0.001) and after the bovine PPD injection in the high prevalence herd (p = 0.003). The presence of clinical signs was also more evident on the cervical site when using avian and bovine PPDs in the high prevalence herd (p < 0.01). In contrast, increases in higher skin fold thickness were observed on the scapular site when compared to the cervical site after the bovine and avian PPD inoculations were employed in the low prevalence herd (p < 0.01). These results suggest that the cervical injection of PPDs may improve the sensitivity of the intradermal tuberculin test in high TB prevalence caprine herds, mainly owing to the increased presence of local clinical signs and a better performance of the CIT test. Moreover, specificity was not affected when using standard interpretations, although further analyses in a great number of herds are required in order to confirm these findings.

BACKGROUND: Scabies is a skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, resulting in intense itching and rash, and sometimes secondary infections with complications. Scabies is not typically a notifiable disease, which makes estimating its burden of disease challenging. In recent years, sharp increases have been reported in Europe. AIM: This study characterises scabies epidemiology in Spain from 2011 to 2023. METHODS: This retrospective study triangulated data from primary care, hospital admissions, occupational diagnoses and outbreaks. Annual incidence rates (IRs) were calculated to assess temporal evolution, demographics and geographic distribution. Joinpoint regression identified IR changes, and time-series analysis explored seasonality. Occupational and outbreak data analysis identified high-risk activities and settings. RESULTS: Incidence rates increased across all data sources, with marked acceleration from 2020–21. The greatest rise was seen in primary care (annual percentage change rose from 22.8% (95% CI: 7.2–31.9) in 2011–20 to 65.8% (95% CI: 47.5–96.6) in 2020–23). The IR was highest amongst 15–24-year-olds. Hospitalisations, with highest IR among people > 65 years, peaked each January. Occupational diagnoses were predominantly registered in healthcare settings (82.0%). Islands and northern coastal regions were most affected. Outbreaks were most frequent in households and nursing homes, with largest outbreaks in healthcare settings. CONCLUSIONS: Given the increasing incidence of scabies in Spain, a strong response is needed to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Improved surveillance and targeted public health initiatives could mitigate further spread, as well as further research to better elucidate the mite-related and epidemiological factors that underline the recent increases across Europe.