Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in Mali.

ABSTRACT: The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is globally distributed, with considerable local variation in prevalence based on behavioral and environmental factors. To assess prevalence and estimate risk in Mali, we conducted a survey of 760 serum samples previously collected for malaria studies. A modified agglutination test detected antibodies in ?27% of the adult population, with no significant differences between men and women, or between urban and rural study sites. In the village of Kolle, seroprevalence rose from 0% in infants (<1 yr, but after weaning of maternal immunoglobulin G) to 0.8% (1-5 yr), 2.7% (6-10), 11.3% (11-15), and 26.8% (>15); differences between the <10-, 11-15-, and >15-yr age groups were highly significant (P ? 0.01). We also observed an increase in anti- T. gondii antibody titers with age. Modeling the observed age distribution suggests a seroconversion rate of ?1%/yr, indicating that congenital toxoplasmosis may be an under-appreciated public health concern in Mali.

SUBMITTER: Ouologuem DT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6810635 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature