[Toxoplasmosis-antibody seroprevalence in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania].

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to get a general idea of the antibody prevalence of toxoplasmosis within the different agegroups of the population of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. 4854 serums (collected between 1994 and 1996) from different institutions of the federal state were investigated with the "Toxo-Competitions Test LTXC)" at the Mini-Vidas divice (bio Merieux).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An antibody prevalence rate of 59% was found. As expected, with rising age a continuing increase was recognisable. The antibody prevalence rate with the male test persons amounted to 58.5%, with the female test persons to 59.3%, and within the pregnant women 63.2%.

RESULTS

Therefore 36.8% of pregnant women have got no toxoplasmosis antibodies, i.e. they are exposed to the danger of a primary infection. Within pregnant women aged between 20 and 40 an increase of antibody prevalence of 1% per year of age was recognisable. There was only a small share of pregnant women (10.5%), but they confirm the facts known from literature.

CONCLUSIONS

More than 1/3 of our test persons hadn't had toxoplasmosis antibodies. Therefore in order to reduce the danger of a primary infection in pregnant women a screening before pregnancy in recommendable.