Microbiologia Medica (Dec 2006)

PSieroprevalenza dell’infezione da Toxoplasma gondii nella popolazione femminile, italiana e straniera, residente nell’area di Legnano (MI)

  • Massimo De Paschale,
  • Carlo Agrappi,
  • Pierangelo Clerici,
  • Paola Mirri,
  • Maria Teresa Manco,
  • Serena Cavallari,
  • Egidio Franco Viganò

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4081/mm.2006.2913
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 21, no. 4

Abstract

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Introduction. Anti-Toxoplasma antibodies prevalence varies worldwide, showing to be lower in industrializes countries of Northern Europe, and higher in developing countries. In Europe from the 80s’ to 2000 a progressive lessening of the prevalence within different ages was observed. Aim of our survey is to analyze the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies among Italian and foreign women afferent to Legnano Hospital from 2000 till 2005. Method. The IgG antibody level of anti-Toxoplasma was tested in 11246 women, aged between 15 and 44 years, 1230 of which (10.9%) were foreigners. Results. The prevalence of IgG anti-Toxoplasma decreased from the 31.2% in 2000 to the 21.4,% in the 2005 (P<0.01). Foreign women constituted 6.7% of our sample in 2000, growing up to 14.7% in 2005 (p<0.01). Seroprevalence among Italian women shifted from 31.4% in 2000 to 19.5% in 2005 (p<0.01), while among foreign women the seroprevalence remains stable around 30%. Conclusion. According to our data a decrease of immunity to the toxoplasmosis becomes apparent between 2000 and 2005, notwithstanding an increase of foreign women with higher seroprevalence.

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