Is the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis declining?

Milne, GC; Webster, JP; Walker, M

Abstract

Prenatal infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii can cause con-genital 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 counterin-tuitive ways. We argue that parasite stage-specific serology could be helpful for un-derstanding underlying causes of secular changes in seroprevalence. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of updating cost-effectiveness estimates of screening programmes, accounting for neuropsychiatric sequelae.

Citation

Milne, G., Webster, J., & Walker, M. (2022). Is the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis declining?. Trends in Parasitology, 39(1), 26-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2022.10.003

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 1, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Nov 15, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022
• Deposit Date: Aug 25, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 25, 2023
• Print ISSN: 1471-4922
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 26-37
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2022.10.003
• Keywords: GONDII INFECTION; PREGNANT-WOMEN; UNITED-STATES; SEROPREVALENCE; PREVALENCE; RESIDENTS; RUBELLA; EPIDEMIOLOGY; TRANSMISSION; VACCINATION