title: Seroprevalence, Seroconversion, and Risk Factors for Toxoplasmosis among Pregnant Women in Taipei, Taiwan.
abstract: Herein, we determined the seroprevalence, seroconversion, and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection among pregnant women in Taipei, Taiwan. Pregnant women attending antenatal consultation in a Taipei medical center were invited, and 104 women completed a self-administered structured questionnaire. Venous blood samples were collected during the first and third trimester after consent was obtained. Serum IgG and IgM antibodies (Abs) as well as IgG avidity were analyzed using an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay. Of the samples collected in the first trimester, seven were seropositive for IgG Abs and one was seropositive for IgG + IgM Abs with a borderline avidity index, resulting in an overall seroprevalence of 7.7%. No statistically significant association was found between toxoplasmosis and age, pregnancy history, or any risk factors. Seroconversion was not detected from paired sera between the first and third trimesters. Pregnant women with senior high school education level or those who claimed to knowing Toxoplasma exhibited a significantly higher seroprevalence than those with bachelor degree (P = 0.05) or those who claimed not to have this knowledge (P = 0.05). Therefore, failure to understand the importance of T. gondii infection and the prevention measures resulted in the development of toxoplasmosis among these women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital.
authors.forename: Ching-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Hung-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Yu-Luen
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hui-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Yin-Chin
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsubouchi
authors.forename: Giueng-Chueng
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chia-Kwung
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D000069078:Seroconversion; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M