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

Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in Korean pregnant women

• Song KJ
• Shin JC
• Shin HJ
• Nam HW

• KMID: 662806
• DOI: http://doi.org/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.

Keyword

Toxoplasma gondii; congenital toxoplasmosis; seroprevalence; amniotic fluid; ELISA; PCR

MeSH Terms

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