title: Toxoplasma prevalence among pregnant women in Norway: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: Infection by Toxoplasma gondii may lead to complications in the foetus if the mother suffers from primary infection during pregnancy. Previously infected women have produced toxoplasma-specific IgG antibodies. The most recent study on prevalence of toxoplasma IgG in the Norwegian pregnant population was conducted 20 years ago. The present study is part of a research programme initiated by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. We aimed to update the knowledge regarding the prevalence of toxoplasma IgG among pregnant women in Norway. In this cross-sectional study, sera from 1922 pregnant women in Buskerud (992) and Sør-Trøndelag counties (930) in Norway were collected consecutively. The presence of toxoplasma IgG was identified by values ≥8 IU/mL using an ELISA test. The overall prevalence of toxoplasma IgG seropositivity was 9.3% (95% CI 8.1-10.7); Sør-Trøndelag 10.4% (95% CI 8.6-12.6) and Buskerud 8.3% (95% CI 6.7-10.2). There was no difference between the counties (p = 0.13), and the result did not differ from prevalences found in 1974 (12.1%) and 1994 (10.7%). We found a higher prevalence among women ≥40 years (OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.30-5.42). The prevalence of toxoplasma IgG among pregnant women in Norway is low and has been stable during the last decades.
authors: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Division of Women and Children, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Gry
authors: G
authors: Findal
authors: Regine
authors: R
authors: Barlinn
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Sandven
authors: Babill
authors: B
authors: Stray-Pedersen
authors: Svein A
authors: SA
authors: Nordbø
authors: Helvi H
authors: HH
authors: Samdal
authors: Kirsti
authors: K
authors: Vainio
authors: Susanne G
authors: SG
authors: Dudman
authors: Pål A
authors: PA
authors: Jenum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: IgG antibody; Toxoplasma gondii; cross-sectional; pregnancy; prevalence