Korean J Parasitol.
2012 Dec;50(4):287-293.
Serologic Survey of Toxoplasmosis in Seoul and Jeju-do, and a Brief Review of Its Seroprevalence in Korea
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea. cjy@snu.ac.kr
- 2Division of Malaria and Parasitic Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongwon 363-951, Korea.
- 3Department of Parasitology and Catholic Institute of Parasitic Diseases, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
- 4Korea Association of Health Promotion, Seoul 157-704, Korea.
- 5Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 463-707, Korea.
Abstract
- Knowledge of the prevalence of human Toxoplasma gondii infection is required in the Republic of Korea. In this study, we surveyed the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and analyzed the risk factors associated with seropositivity among residents in 2 administrative districts; Seoul and the island of Jeju-do, which have contrasting epidemiologic characteristics. Sera and blood collected from 2,150 residents (1,114 in Seoul and 1,036 in Jeju-do) were checked for IgG antibody titers using ELISA and for the T. gondii B1 gene using PCR. In addition, participants completed a questionnaire that solicited information on gender, age, occupation, eating habits, history of contact with animals, and travel abroad. The T. gondii B1 gene was not detected in all residents examined. However, ELISA showed 8.0% (89 of 1,114 sera) positive for IgG antibodies against T. gondii in Seoul and 11.3% (117 of 1,036 sera) in Jeju-do. In both districts, the positive rates were higher in males than in females, and those 40-79 years of age showed higher rates than other ages. In Seoul, residents older than 70 years of age showed the highest positive rate, 14.9%, whereas in Jeju-do the highest prevalence, 15.6%, was in those in their sixties. The higher seropositive rate in Jeju-do than in Seoul may be related to eating habits and occupations. The present results and a review of related literature are indicative of an increased seroprevalence of T. gondii in Korea in recent years.
Keyword
MeSH Terms
-
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Animals
Antibodies, Protozoan/*blood
Child
DNA, Protozoan/blood
Female
Humans
Immunoglobulin G/*blood
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Middle Aged
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Risk Factors
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Sex Factors
Toxoplasma/genetics/*immunology
Toxoplasmosis/*epidemiology/parasitology
Young Adult
Antibodies, Protozoan
DNA, Protozoan
Immunoglobulin G
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