title: Prevalence of antibody to Toxoplasma gondii among inhabitants under different geographical and climatic conditions in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
abstract: Sera collected from 2,564 inhabitants of different areas in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, were examined for antibody to Toxoplasma gondii by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The overall prevalence rates of male (11.6%) and female populations (7.6%) were significantly different (P < 0.001). The prevalence also depended on age of the population. Of 11 districts three, being far from the sea and occupied mainly by mountains with relatively high altitudes (95-195 m), showed a significantly lower average prevalence (5.0%) than the other districts with altitudes of 3-58 m, a part of which was adjacent to the sea (10.6%; P < 0.001). The average prevalence obtained in two districts with annual rainfall of 1,862-2,062 mm (16.8%) was significantly higher than that obtained in six districts with annual rainfall of 1,026-1,204 mm (8.6%; P < 0.001).
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology, Hyogo Prefectural Institute of Public Health.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamaoka
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Konishi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011891:Rain; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan