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Low incidence of toxoplasma infection during pregnancy and in newborns in Sweden

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 August 2001

B. EVENGÅRD
Affiliation:
Divisions of Clinical Bacteriology, Unit of Parasitology at Dept Immunology, Microbiology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge University Hospital S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
K. PETERSSON
Affiliation:
Depts of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge University Hospital S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
M-L. ENGMAN
Affiliation:
Pediatrics, Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge University Hospital S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
S. WIKLUND
Affiliation:
Dept of Pediatrics, Malmö University Hospital, Sweden
S. A. IVARSSON
Affiliation:
Dept of Pediatrics, Malmö University Hospital, Sweden
K. TEÄR-FAHNEHJELM
Affiliation:
Ophthalmology, Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge University Hospital S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
M. FORSGREN
Affiliation:
Virology at Dept Immunology, Microbiology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge University Hospital S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
R. GILBERT
Affiliation:
Dept of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
G. MALM
Affiliation:
Pediatrics, Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge University Hospital S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
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Abstract

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To estimate the burden of disease due to congenital toxoplasmosis in Sweden the incidence of primary infections during pregnancy and birth prevalence of congenital toxoplasmosis in 40978 children born in two regions in Sweden was determined. Women possibly infected during pregnancy were identified based on: 1, detection of specific IgG based on neonatal screening of the phenylketonuria (PKU) card blood spot followed by retrospective testing of stored prenatal samples to detect women who acquired infection during pregnancy and follow up of their children to 12 months; 2, detection of specific IgM on the PKU blood spot.

The birth prevalence of congenital toxoplasmosis was 0·73/10000 (95% CI 0·15–2·14) (3/40978).

The incidence of primary infection during pregnancy was 5·1/10000 (95% CI 2·6–8·9) susceptible pregnant women. The seroprevalence in the southern part was 25·7% and in the Stockholm area 14·0%.

The incidence of infection during pregnancy was low, as the birth prevalence of congenital toxoplasmosis. Neonatal screening warrants consideration in view of the low cost and feasibility.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2001 Cambridge University Press