Toxoplasmosis in Poznan region,Poland 1990-2000

The paper summarizes the results of the interdisciplinary studies on toxoplasmosis carried out in Poznan region, Poland. In the years 1990-2000 the specific Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity rates in pregnant women decreased from 58.9% to 43.7%. Significant was an increase in seropositivity in the age group 15-20 years. Cats were seropositive in 70.6%; relatively high seropositivity rate was observed in cats kept at home only (65.7%). Slaughtered pigs were positive in 13.2% with higher rates in older pigs and those originating from small private farms. Screening newborns with noncommercial tests by using Guthrie cards revealed that the congenital toxoplasmosis occurs in 0.55/1.000 pregnancies at screening for specific IgM and 1.08/1.000 pregnancies at screening for combined IgM and IgA. The prenatal screening for toxoplasmosis has not been introduced in Poland. However, the frequency of individual serological testing for Toxoplasma increased from 2.7% to 4.6% of pregnancies. Active health education was introduced in Poznan region and the awareness of toxoplasmosis risk increased from 24.3% to 45.2%. Still 54.7% of pregnant women were inadequately informed and 44.8% of pregnant women, being aware of the risk or not, did not respect specific hygienic measures. The rational control of congenital toxoplasmosis in Poznan region should be based on a routine newborn screening for congenital toxoplasmosis, continuous education of medical personnel and intensive, modern health education especially in adolescents and pregnant women from rural areas.