Prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii among urban and rural residents in the Philippines

Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2000 Dec;31(4):742-6.

Abstract

A survey of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii was carried out among residents in urban (Metro Manila) and rural (Mindoro and Leyte) areas in the Philippines. A total of 1,173 serum samples were examined for Toxoplasma antibody by an ELISA method. The overall seropositivity was 11.1% (n=904, 12.4% in males, 10.0% in females) in Metro Manila, 61.2% (n=152, 63.3% in males, 53.1% in females) in Mindoro, and 30.1% (n=113, 34.3% in males, 22.5% in females) in Leyte, indicating significantly higher (p<0.001) seropositivities in rural than urban settings. No significant differences in seropositivities were observed between males and females. In each group, seropositivity tended to increase with age of the subjects.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Philippines / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Rural Health*
  • Toxoplasma / immunology*
  • Toxoplasmosis / epidemiology
  • Urban Health*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan