TOXOPLASMOSIS IN ARMENIA (1961–2025): A CONCISE UPDATE AND "ONE HEALTH" RESEARCH AGENDA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46991/PYSUB.2026.60.1.033Keywords:
Toxoplasma gondii, Armenia, One Health, wildlife, livestock, molecular detection, review updateAbstract
Toxoplasma gondii remains a significant zoonotic parasite in Armenia, however, the epidemiological data continue to be heterogeneous. Although Daryani et al. recently presented a comprehensive review of the Armenian scientific literature up to 2023, the present work is considered both an update to that review and a strategic agenda for future research. Readers interested in detailed descriptions of individual studies and analyses of seroprevalence prior to 2023 are encouraged to consult the aforementioned publication. Accordingly, this article provides a concise chronological overview (1961–2023), emphasizes a synthesized analysis of data generated after 2023, and further expands on prospective priorities within the One Health framework that are relevant to the current capacity of epidemiological surveillance in Armenia.
References
Dubey J.P. Toxoplasmosis of Animals and Humans. In: Toxoplasmosis of Animals and Humans. CRC Press (2021). https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003199373
Molan A., Nosaka K., et al. Global Status of Toxoplasma gondii Infection: Systematic Review and Prevalence Snapshots. Tropical Biomedicine 36 (2019), 898–925. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33597463
Dubey J.P., Jones J.L. Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Humans and Animals in the United States. Int. J. Parasitol. 38 (2008), 1257–1278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2008.03.007
Tenter A.M., Heckeroth A.R., Weiss L.M. Toxoplasma gondii: from Animals to Humans. Int. J. Parasitol. 30 (2000), 1217–1258. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7519(00)00124-7
Dubey J.P., Murata F.H.A., et al. Congenital Toxoplasmosis in Humans: an Update of Worldwide Rate of Congenital Infections. Parasitology 148 (2021), 1406–1416. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182021001013
Hsu P.C., Groer M., Beckie T. New Findings: Depression, Suicide, and Toxoplasma gondii Infection. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners 26 (2014), 629–637. https://doi.org/10.1002/2327-6924.12129
Fallahi S., Rostami A., et al. Parkinson's Disease and Toxoplasma gondii Infection: Sero-molecular Assess the Possible Link Among Patients. Acta Tropica 173 (2017), 97–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.06.002
Suvisaari J., Torniainen-Holm M., et al. Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Common Mental Disorders in the Finnish General Population. J. Affect. Disord. 223 (2017), 20–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.07.020
Ferguson D.J.P. Toxoplasma gondii: 1908–2008, Homage to Nicolle, Manceaux and Splendore. Memórias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 104 (2009), 133–148. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762009000200003
Howe D.K., Sibley L.D. Toxoplasma gondii Comprises Three Clonal Lineages: Correlation of Parasite Genotype with Human Disease. The Journal of Infectious Diseases 172 (1995), 1561–1566. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/172.6.1561
Su C., Shwab E.K., et al. Moving Towards an Integrated Approach to Molecular Detection and Identification of Toxoplasma gondii. Parasitology 137 (2010), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182009991065
Sibley L.D., Boothroyd J.C. Virulent Strains of Toxoplasma gondii Comprise a Single Clonal Lineage. Nature 359 (1992), 82–85. https://doi.org/10.1038/359082a0
Shapiro K., Bahia-Oliveira L., et al. Environmental Transmission of Toxoplasma gondii: Oocysts in Water, Soil and Food. Food and Waterborne Parasitology 15 (2019), e00049. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fawpar.2019.e00049
Smith N.C., Goulart C., et al. Control of Human Toxoplasmosis. International Journal for Parasitology 51 (2021), 95–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.11.001
Hide G., Morley E.K., et al. Evidence for High Levels of Vertical Transmission in Toxoplasma gondii. Parasitology 136 (2009), 1877–1885. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182009990941
Dubey J.P., Carpenter J.L., et al. Histologically Confirmed Clinical Toxoplasmosis in Cats: 100 Cases (1952–1990). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 203 (1993), 1556–1566. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.1993.203.11.1556
Bastien P. Molecular Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis. Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 96 (1) (2002), S205–S215. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0035-9203(02)90078-7
Liu Q., Wang Z. D., et al. Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis and Typing of Toxoplasma gondii. Parasites and Vectors 8 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/S13071-015-0902-6
Kim M.J., Park S.J., Park H. Trend in Serological and Molecular Diagnostic Methods for Toxoplasma gondii Infection. European Journal of Medical Research 29 (2024), 520. https://doi.org/10.1186/S40001-024-02055-4
Switaj K., Master A., et al. Recent Trends in Molecular Diagnostics for Toxoplasma gondii Infections. Clinical Microbiology and Infection 11 (2005), 170–176. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-0691.2004.01073.x
Aghayan S., Asikyan M., Raković M., et al. Molecular Detection of Toxoplasma gondii (Chromista: Apicomplexa) in the Blood of Passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in South–Eastern Armenia. Zoologia 41 (2024), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-4689.v41.e24016
Aghayan S., Asikyan M., et al. Toxoplasma gondii in Rodents and Shrews in Armenia, Transcaucasia. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife 25 (2024), 100987. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJPPAW.2024.100987
Gevorgyan R., Aghayan S.A., et al. Seroprevalence and Altitude-Dependent Patterns of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Livestock from Northern Armenia (Under Review) (2025).
Aghayan S.A., Montazeri M., et al. In vitro Activity of Acetone, Ethanol, and Methanol Extracts of Ramalina Polymorpha Lichen against Toxoplasma gondii RH Strain. Submitted to the New Armenian Medical Journal (2026).
Daryani A., Grigoryan G., et al. A Review on Toxoplasma gondii Research in Armenia: Gaps and Opportunities. Parasite Epidemiology and Control (Unpublished) (2025).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Proceedings of the YSU

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.