title: High Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis Detected by RDT among the Residents of Seokmo-do (Island) in Ganghwa-Gun, Incheon City, Korea.
abstract: Seroprevalence ofToxoplasma gondiiinfection among the residents of Seokmo-do (Island) in Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, Korea was surveyed for 4 years by a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) using recombinant fragment of major surface antigen (SAG1), GST-linker-SAG1A. Sera from 312, 343, 390, and 362 adult residents were collected on a yearly basis from 2010 to 2013, respectively. Total positive seroprevalence regardless of gender was 29.2, 35.3, 38.7, and 45.3% from 2010 to 2013, respectively. Positive seroprevalence in male adults was 43.9, 48.2, 45.4, and 55.3%, which was far higher than that of the corresponding female adults which was 20.7, 29.2, 33.9, and 38.9%, from 2010 to 2013, respectively. This high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in Seokmo-do may have been caused in part by peculiar changes in the toxoplasmic environment of the island as it is a relatively isolated area preserving its natural habitat while also being connected by a bridge to the mainland. Further study is necessary to find out symptomatic patients and to confirm the risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeong Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Genbody Inc., Cheonan 31116, Korea.
authors.forename: Jihoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine and Inha Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22333, Korea.
authors.forename: Seongkyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine and Inha Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22333, Korea.
authors.forename: Tong-Soo
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Environmental Biology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul 06974, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Jong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Genbody Inc., Cheonan 31116, Korea.
authors.forename: Chom-Kyu
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, the Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, the Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Woo
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Nam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity / Q000379:methods*; D002947:Cities / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D062312:Islands / Q000453:epidemiology; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan
keywords: Korea; Seokmo-do (Island); Toxoplasma gondii; rapid diagnostic test; seroprevalence