Population-based Toxoplasma seroprevalence study in The Netherlands.
During 1995--1996 a population-based seroprevalence study was conducted in The Netherlands. Risk factors were established for postnatally acquired toxoplasmosis. The results were compared with a study conducted during 1987-1988 in pregnant women in the Southwest of The Netherlands in order to estimate the change in seroprevalence. In total, 7521 sera were tested and the national seroprevalence was 40.5 % (95 % CI 37.5-43.4). Living in the Northwest, having professional contact with animals, living in a moderately urbanized area, being divorced or widowed, being born outside The Netherlands, frequent gardening and owning a cat were independently associated with Toxoplasma seropositivity. Risk factors like eating undercooked meat could not be studied. The seroprevalence among women aged 15-49 years was 10 % lower (35.2 %, 95 % CI 32.9-38.6) in the study of 1995-1996, compared to the Toxoplasma study of 1987--1988 (45.8 %, 95 % CI 45.2-46.3). The steepest rise in seroprevalence still occurred among the subjects aged 25-44 years.
Kortbeek
L M
LM
Diagnostic Laboratory for Infectious Diseases and Perinatal Screening, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands. LM.Kortbeek@rivm.nl
De Melker
H E
HE
Veldhuijzen
I K
IK
Conyn-Van Spaendonck
M A E
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan