Toxoplasmosis in England and Wales 1981 to 1992.
We have examined laboratory reports of toxoplasmosis received by the PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre between January 1981 and December 1992 in order to describe epidemiological trends in the three main clinical manifestations of toxoplasmosis-lymphadenopathy, eye disease, and neurological disease; and the two most important risk groups-fetuses and people whose immunity is impaired. The total numbers of reports each year did not change significantly between 1981 and 1992 and were similar to the numbers between 1976 and 1980, but different trends emerged in each subgroup. Reports of acute lymphadenopathic toxoplasmosis declined in children and young adults and eye disease associated with toxoplasmosis fell markedly in all age groups. Reports of neurological disease and severe toxoplasmosis complicating impaired immunity, due mainly to HIV infection or transplant surgery, rose. Reports of infections diagnosed in pregnancy rose steeply in the late 1980s although reports of congenital toxoplasmosis were no more common than in 1975 to 1980. Reports of acute toxoplasmosis came mainly from southern England. The emergence of these diverse trends from apparently unchanging totals emphasises the importance of surveillance systems capable of discrimination.
Ryan
M
M
Hall
S M
SM
Barrett
N J
NJ
Balfour
A H
AH
Holliman
R E
RE
Joynson
D H
DH
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology