Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38662074›Full record

ArticleActa parasitologica2024

Oral Sex as a Potential Route for Toxoplasma Gondii Transmission: Experiment with Human Semen and Laboratory Mice Model.

Jana Ullmann, Petr Kodym, Jaroslav Flegr, Dagmar Berenová, Simona Jirsová, Šárka Kaňková

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Acta parasitologica, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 20% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Veterinary sciences · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
  3. Beyond Latency: ChronicBiomedicines · 2025
    Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Jana UllmannDepartment of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. hlavajan@natur.cuni.cz.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2011-895X
Petr KodymNational Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic.
Jaroslav FlegrDepartment of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
Dagmar BerenováNational Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic.
Simona JirsováCentre for Assisted Reproduction, Department of Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
Šárka KaňkováDepartment of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
Charles University · CZNational Institute of Public Health · CZ

Funding

Charles University Grant Agency 262721Ministerstvo Zdravotnictví Ceské Republiky CZ-DRO-VFN64165Wellcome Trust 204056
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeToxoplasma gondii is one of the most widespread parasites in the human population globally. Several modes of its transmission have been proposed: some are well-researched and confirmed, others remain unconfirmed. One unconfirmed hypothesis pertains to potential transmission of Toxoplasma gondii via oral sex (fellatio) in humans. A recent study found tissue cysts in the semen of men with latent toxoplasmosis. Therefore, we aimed to test the hypothesis of Toxoplasma gondii transmission through oral sex experimentally.

methodsEighty-two laboratory mice were orally administered semen samples from 41 men with latent toxoplasmosis. These semen samples were examined for the presence of Toxoplasma gondii DNA using PCR.

resultsWe detected Toxoplasma gondii DNA in three of the 41 semen samples from men with latent toxoplasmosis. Oral administration of semen samples to laboratory mice did not result in parasite transmission.

conclusionWe have not demonstrated the transmission of Toxoplasma to mice by oral exposure to semen from infected men. While this does not conclusively rule out the possibility of such transmission in humans, the results suggest that, if it does occur, this mode of transmission is likely infrequent.

Indexed as

SemenToxoplasmaToxoplasmosisAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalDNA, ProtozoanFemaleHumansMaleMiceDNA, ProtozoanEjaculateFellatioLatent toxoplasmosisParasitic diseaseSexual transmissionSperm

Identifiers

PMID38662074
OpenAlexW4395450478

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.