Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and associated risk factors among children in Shandong and Jilin provinces, China.
OBJECTIVE
Infection by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is generally prevalent in animals and humans worldwide. However, little is known about T. gondii infection among children in China. Thus, the present study was conducted to detect the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and estimate associated risk factors among children in eastern China.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of 1500 children from three cities (Changchun, Qingdao, Weihai) was conducted between May 2013 and July 2014 to estimate the seroprevalence and potential risk factors associated with acquiring T. gondii infection in children in China. Demographic and blood samples were collected, and anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were measured by ELISA.


RESULTS
The mean age of the 1500 children participating in the study was 9.03 years (range 1-18). The overall seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection was 15.13%, of which 13.13% were positive for only anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies, 3.13% were positive for both anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies and 2.00% were IgM positive and IgG negative. Moreover, raising cats at home (OR=1.94, 95% CI=1.288-2.912, P=0.002) and hand washing habits (OR=0.38, 95% CI=0.230-0.635, P<0.001) were estimated to be risk and protective factors associated with Toxoplasma seroprevalence, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study revealed for the first time that children's infection with T. gondii is common in eastern China. The present data indicate a need to implement methods of prevention and control measures against Toxoplasma infection in China.
['Meng|Qing-Feng|QF|', 'You|Hai-Long|HL|', 'Zhou|Na|N|', 'Dong|Wei|W|', 'Wang|Wei-Lin|WL|', 'Wang|Wei-Li|WL|', 'Cong|Wei|W|']
D000293:Adolescent D000818:Animals D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D002681:China D002947:Cities D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007074:Immunoglobulin G D007223:Infant D008297:Male D012307:Risk Factors D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies D014122:Toxoplasma D014123:Toxoplasmosis
seroprevalence Toxoplasma gondii risk factors children China