Toxoplasma gondii Seroprevalence in the United States 2009–2010 and Comparison with the Past Two Decades

Abstract

Abstract. Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous parasite that can cause neurologic and ocular disease. We tested sera from 7,072 people 6 years of age in the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for immunoglobulin G antibodies and compared these results with two previous NHANES studies. The overall T. gondii antibody seroprevalence among persons 6 years of age in 2009-2010 was 13.2% (95% confidence limit [CL] 11.8%, 14.5%) and age-adjusted seroprevalence was 12.4% (95% CL 11.1%, 13.7%); age-adjusted seroprevalence among women 15-44 years of age was 9.1% (95% CL 7.2%, 11.1%). In U.S. born persons 12-49 years of age, the age-adjusted T. gondii seroprevalence decreased from 14.1% (95% CL 12.7%, 15.5%) in NHANES III (1988-1994 to 9.0% (95% CL 7.6%, 10.5%) in NHANES 1999-2004 in NHANES 2009-2010 (P 0.001 linear trend). Although T. gondii antibody presence is still relatively common, the prevalence in the United States has continued to decline.

Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention of Congenital Toxoplasmosis in the United States

“…The incidence of CT may also be higher in areas and in subpopulations in the United States with higher overall T gondii seroprevalence rates. 65,77 Then, assuming an overall MTCT rate of 25% (consistent with more recent data), the estimated incidence of acute primary infection during pregnancy in the United States would have been approximately 0.2 per 1000 pregnant women. If these numbers (0.2-1.1 acute cases per 1000 pregnant women) are extrapolated to the approximately 4 million pregnancies per year in the United States, 90 approximately 800 to 4400 women per year in the United States acquire acute T gondii infections during pregnancy.…”

“…If women become infected during pregnancy, they could give birth to an infant with CT. People born outside the United States were significantly more likely to be seropositive than people born in the United States (25.1% vs 9.6%, respectively). 77 Seroprevalence rates were also higher in persons with a Hispanic versus a non-Hispanic white racial background (15.8% vs 10.2%, respectively). 77 In addition, seroprevalence rates in children living on farms in Wisconsin have been reported to be fivefold higher than rates in children not living in farms (18% [29 of 159] vs 4% [8 of 184], respectively).…”

“…77 Seroprevalence rates were also higher in persons with a Hispanic versus a non-Hispanic white racial background (15.8% vs 10.2%, respectively). 77 In addition, seroprevalence rates in children living on farms in Wisconsin have been reported to be fivefold higher than rates in children not living in farms (18% [29 of 159] vs 4% [8 of 184], respectively). 78 In the United States, toxoplasmosis was found to be the second leading cause of death and the fourth leading cause of hospitalizations attributable to foodborne illnesses.…”

“…Data from the most recent NHANES for 2009-2010 77 showed an overall age-adjusted seroprevalence in people older than 6 years of 12.4% (95% CI: 11.1-13.7%) (The respective unadjusted seroprevalence rate was 13.2% [95% CI: 11.8-14.5%].) The age-adjusted seroprevalence among women of childbearing age (15-44 years) in the whole US population was 9.1% (95% CI: 7.2-11.1%) in 2009-2010 compared with 11% in 1999-2004 and 15% in 1988-1994.…”

Toxoplasma gondii in Meat for Human Consumption – A Brief Review of the Most Described Strategies for Its Detection and Quantification

“…However, it is estimated that the economic impact should be very high due to the loss of one or more days of work in mild cases, treatment and care needs, sick children, especially those with mental retardation and blindness, loss of quality lifestyle and the costs of hospitalization in severe cases and the cost of monitoring pregnant women and treatment during pregnancy who are T. gondii positive [26,36,37].…”