title: The prevalence and incidence of Toxoplasma antibodies in pregnant women.
abstract: A group of 213 pregnant Jewish women of Israeli and North-African/Asian origin in the Upper Gallilee in Israel were tested for Toxoplasma antibody, first at 4-12 weeks gestation and again 5-6 months later. Immunofluorescent antibody, Sabin-Feldman tests, and specific IgM estimation were used. The prevalence rates for seropositive women were lower in both groups (total 21%) than the rate found in a 1973 study in Israel. The incidence rate for infection acquired in pregnancy was 1.4%. There were no cases of congenital toxoplasmosis, as far as is known up to 3 years of age. More information on the prevalence and incidence of seropositivity, and on congenital toxoplasmosis, is required before a policy decision can be taken as to whether an antenatal screening program for toxoplasmosis should be instituted in Israel.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Safed, Israel.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dror
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nishri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007599:Judaism; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan