Is the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis declining?
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Milne, Gregory Colin
Webster, Joanne P
Walker, Martin
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Prenatal infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii can cause congenital toxoplasmosis (CT), an often fatal or lifelong-disabling condition. Several studies of human populations have reported temporal decreases in seroprevalence, suggesting declining CT incidence. However, the consistency of this trend among diverse populations remains unclear, as does its implication for prenatal screening programmes, the major intervention against CT. Using temporally resolved data on the seroprevalence of T. gondii in various countries, we discuss how the parasite's changing epidemiology may affect trends in CT incidence in varying and counterintuitive ways. We argue that parasite stage-specific serology could be helpful for understanding underlying causes of secular changes in seroprevalence. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of updating cost-effectiveness estimates of screening programmes, accounting for neuropsychiatric sequelae.
Date Issued
2023-01
Date Acceptance
2022-10-21
Citation
Trends in Parasitology, 2023, 39 (1), pp.26-37
ISSN
0169-4758
Publisher
Cell Press
Start Page
26
End Page
37
Journal / Book Title
Trends in Parasitology
Volume
39
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36400672
PII: S1471-4922(22)00256-2
Subjects
Toxoplasma gondii
congenital toxoplasmosis
cost-effectiveness
seroprevalence
stage-specific serology
temporal changes
Pregnancy
Female
Animals
Humans
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis, Congenital
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Incidence
Toxoplasma
Parasites
Risk Factors
Antibodies, Protozoan
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Date Publish Online
2022-11-15