Seasonal Variations in Human Toxoplasma Infection in Serbia
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2010
Authors
Bobić, Branko
Klun, Ivana

Nikolić, Aleksandra
Vujanić, Marija

Živković, Tijana

Ivović, Vladimir
Đurković-Đaković, Olgica

Article (Published version)

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Background: Seasonal variations in the occurrence of toxoplasmosis have been studied only sporadically. We thus examined the seasonal distribution of acute toxoplasmosis in Serbia during a 4-year period (2004-2008). Materials and methods: A total of 391 consecutive symptomatic (recent lymphadenopathy) and 715 asymptomatic (women tested for obstetric reasons) patients were tested for Toxoplasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) (including IgG avidity) and IgM antibodies. The distribution of patients with acute infection, and of all patients from both groups, was analyzed for seasonality. In addition, factors (including undercooked meat consumption, contact with cats and with soil) possibly contributing to seasonality were analyzed in patients with acute infection (cases) matched by age, sex, and time (month and year) of infection (symptomatic) or presentation (asymptomatic) with seronegative patients (controls). Results: Acute toxoplasmosis was serologically (IgG avidity low, IgM positive) diagnos...ed in 39 (10.0%) symptomatic and 38 (5.3%) asymptomatic patients. In both groups, monthly distribution of acute infections showed significant (p lt 0.0001) seasonality, which was related to the four seasons of the year (p lt 0.0001). Importantly, the observed seasonality was not related to the distribution of all examined patients in either group (p lt 0.001). In the symptomatic patients, acute infections occurred more often between October and March (p 0.0486). Although more asymptomatic acute infections were diagnosed between February and July (p 0.0037), low IgG avidity suggests that infection had occurred within the previous trimester (between November and April). Undercooked meat consumption was shown as a risk factor for symptomatic infection in the October-March period (odds ratio 7.67, 95% confidence interval 1.61-36.45). Conclusion: Seasonality patterns should be taken into account in the health education guidelines for the prevention of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women.
Keywords:
Acute infection / Risk factors / Seasonality / ToxoplasmosisSource:
Vector-Borne & Zoonotic Diseases, 2010, 10, 5, 465-469Publisher:
- Mary Ann Liebert, Inc, New Rochelle
Funding / projects:
DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2009.0153
ISSN: 1530-3667
PubMed: 20017715
WoS: 000278980100007
Scopus: 2-s2.0-77954183330
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Institut za medicinska istraživanjaTY - JOUR AU - Bobić, Branko AU - Klun, Ivana AU - Nikolić, Aleksandra AU - Vujanić, Marija AU - Živković, Tijana AU - Ivović, Vladimir AU - Đurković-Đaković, Olgica PY - 2010 UR - http://rimi.imi.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/297 AB - Background: Seasonal variations in the occurrence of toxoplasmosis have been studied only sporadically. We thus examined the seasonal distribution of acute toxoplasmosis in Serbia during a 4-year period (2004-2008). Materials and methods: A total of 391 consecutive symptomatic (recent lymphadenopathy) and 715 asymptomatic (women tested for obstetric reasons) patients were tested for Toxoplasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) (including IgG avidity) and IgM antibodies. The distribution of patients with acute infection, and of all patients from both groups, was analyzed for seasonality. In addition, factors (including undercooked meat consumption, contact with cats and with soil) possibly contributing to seasonality were analyzed in patients with acute infection (cases) matched by age, sex, and time (month and year) of infection (symptomatic) or presentation (asymptomatic) with seronegative patients (controls). Results: Acute toxoplasmosis was serologically (IgG avidity low, IgM positive) diagnosed in 39 (10.0%) symptomatic and 38 (5.3%) asymptomatic patients. In both groups, monthly distribution of acute infections showed significant (p lt 0.0001) seasonality, which was related to the four seasons of the year (p lt 0.0001). Importantly, the observed seasonality was not related to the distribution of all examined patients in either group (p lt 0.001). In the symptomatic patients, acute infections occurred more often between October and March (p 0.0486). Although more asymptomatic acute infections were diagnosed between February and July (p 0.0037), low IgG avidity suggests that infection had occurred within the previous trimester (between November and April). Undercooked meat consumption was shown as a risk factor for symptomatic infection in the October-March period (odds ratio 7.67, 95% confidence interval 1.61-36.45). Conclusion: Seasonality patterns should be taken into account in the health education guidelines for the prevention of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women. PB - Mary Ann Liebert, Inc, New Rochelle T2 - Vector-Borne & Zoonotic Diseases T1 - Seasonal Variations in Human Toxoplasma Infection in Serbia EP - 469 IS - 5 SP - 465 VL - 10 DO - 10.1089/vbz.2009.0153 UR - conv_2318 ER -
@article{ author = "Bobić, Branko and Klun, Ivana and Nikolić, Aleksandra and Vujanić, Marija and Živković, Tijana and Ivović, Vladimir and Đurković-Đaković, Olgica", year = "2010", abstract = "Background: Seasonal variations in the occurrence of toxoplasmosis have been studied only sporadically. We thus examined the seasonal distribution of acute toxoplasmosis in Serbia during a 4-year period (2004-2008). Materials and methods: A total of 391 consecutive symptomatic (recent lymphadenopathy) and 715 asymptomatic (women tested for obstetric reasons) patients were tested for Toxoplasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) (including IgG avidity) and IgM antibodies. The distribution of patients with acute infection, and of all patients from both groups, was analyzed for seasonality. In addition, factors (including undercooked meat consumption, contact with cats and with soil) possibly contributing to seasonality were analyzed in patients with acute infection (cases) matched by age, sex, and time (month and year) of infection (symptomatic) or presentation (asymptomatic) with seronegative patients (controls). Results: Acute toxoplasmosis was serologically (IgG avidity low, IgM positive) diagnosed in 39 (10.0%) symptomatic and 38 (5.3%) asymptomatic patients. In both groups, monthly distribution of acute infections showed significant (p lt 0.0001) seasonality, which was related to the four seasons of the year (p lt 0.0001). Importantly, the observed seasonality was not related to the distribution of all examined patients in either group (p lt 0.001). In the symptomatic patients, acute infections occurred more often between October and March (p 0.0486). Although more asymptomatic acute infections were diagnosed between February and July (p 0.0037), low IgG avidity suggests that infection had occurred within the previous trimester (between November and April). Undercooked meat consumption was shown as a risk factor for symptomatic infection in the October-March period (odds ratio 7.67, 95% confidence interval 1.61-36.45). Conclusion: Seasonality patterns should be taken into account in the health education guidelines for the prevention of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women.", publisher = "Mary Ann Liebert, Inc, New Rochelle", journal = "Vector-Borne & Zoonotic Diseases", title = "Seasonal Variations in Human Toxoplasma Infection in Serbia", pages = "469-465", number = "5", volume = "10", doi = "10.1089/vbz.2009.0153", url = "conv_2318" }
Bobić, B., Klun, I., Nikolić, A., Vujanić, M., Živković, T., Ivović, V.,& Đurković-Đaković, O.. (2010). Seasonal Variations in Human Toxoplasma Infection in Serbia. in Vector-Borne & Zoonotic Diseases Mary Ann Liebert, Inc, New Rochelle., 10(5), 465-469. https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2009.0153 conv_2318
Bobić B, Klun I, Nikolić A, Vujanić M, Živković T, Ivović V, Đurković-Đaković O. Seasonal Variations in Human Toxoplasma Infection in Serbia. in Vector-Borne & Zoonotic Diseases. 2010;10(5):465-469. doi:10.1089/vbz.2009.0153 conv_2318 .
Bobić, Branko, Klun, Ivana, Nikolić, Aleksandra, Vujanić, Marija, Živković, Tijana, Ivović, Vladimir, Đurković-Đaković, Olgica, "Seasonal Variations in Human Toxoplasma Infection in Serbia" in Vector-Borne & Zoonotic Diseases, 10, no. 5 (2010):465-469, https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2009.0153 ., conv_2318 .