Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in Korean pregnant women

Korean J Parasitol. 2005 Jun;43(2):69-71. doi: 10.3347/kjp.2005.43.2.69.

Abstract

This study was performed in order to evaluate the sero-epidemiological status of toxoplasmosis in pregnant Korean women. Among 5,175 sera and 750 amniotic fluid samples obtained from pregnant women, 41 serum samples (0.79%) and 10 (1.33%) amniotic fluid samples tested positive for IgG antibodies by ELISA. Fifty one cases showing a score more than 0.25 on ELISA were tested for PCR reaction against the SAG1 gene. Only one case of the 51 ELISA positive cases exhibited a positive reaction on all tests. This case had a history of acute nephropyelitis during early pregnancy, but fortunately, had delivered a phenotypically healthy baby. In this study, the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women was found to be comparatively low, consistent with previous reports from Korea. However our trials, performed with a variety of diagnostic tools, were considered to be useful for the precise diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Korea / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / diet therapy
  • Pregnancy Complications / epidemiology*
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Toxoplasma / immunology*
  • Toxoplasmosis / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan