Korean J Parasitol.  2009 Jun;47(2):125-130. 10.3347/kjp.2009.47.2.125.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Characteristics of Seropositive Patients in General Hospitals in Daejeon, Korea

• Shin DW
• Cha DY
• Hua QJ
• Cha GH
• Lee YH

• KMID: 1720621
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2009.47.2.125

Abstract

To figure out the epidemiological status and relevance with other diseases in toxoplasmosis, we checked serum IgG antibody titers of 1,265 patients and medical records of seropositive patients. Seropositive rates were 6.6% by latex agglutination test (LAT) and 6.7% by ELISA. No significant differences were detected between sexes and age groups. The peak seroprevalence was detected in the 40-49-year-old age group. According to clinical department, Toxoplasma-positive rates were high in patients in psychiatry, ophthalmology, health management, emergency medicine, and thoracic surgery. Major coincidental diseases in seropositive cases were malignant neoplasms, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, chronic hepatitis B, chronic renal diseases, schizophrenia, and acute lymphadenitis, in the order of frequency. In particular, some patients with chronic hepatitis B and malignant neoplasms had high antibody titers. These results revealed that the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in a general hospital-based study was similar to that in a community-based study, and T. gondii seropositivity may be associated with neoplasms, diabetes, and other chronic infections.

Keyword

Toxoplasma gondii; comorbidity; general hospital; seroprevalence; Daejeon

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Animals
Antibodies, Protozoan/blood
Child
Child, Preschool
Comorbidity
Female
Hospitals, General
Humans
Immunoglobulin G/blood
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Korea/epidemiology
Male
Middle Aged
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Toxoplasma/*immunology
Toxoplasmosis/*epidemiology
Young Adult