Study on the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in Indonesia: a review.

Congenital toxoplasmosis has been confirmed in Indonesia. Many newborn children in Indonesia have congenital anomalies attributable to Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite is widespread, with seroprevalence rates of 2-63% in humans, 35-73% in cats, 75% in dogs, 11-36% in pigs, 11-61% in goats, and less than 10% in cows. The prevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies in pregnant women in the Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta is 14.3%, and in 50 abortions it is 67.8%. In patients with a history of one or more abortions or stillbirths, the prevalence is 21.5% and 22.8%, respectively. No significant difference has been found in women with or without histories of habitual abortions or stillbirths. In adults and children with chorioretinitis, the prevalence of antibody is 60%; in patients with other eye lesions, it is 17%. The prevalence in hydrocephalic children is 10.6%; in children with mental retardation, 44.6%; in children with eye lesions, 44.6%; and in children with signs of systemic diseases, 9.5%. The diagnosis of an acute Toxoplasma infection using the ELISA should be based on a significant increase in IgG levels in paired sera or on detection of IgM.

Chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum infection from Lampung and South Sumatra, Indonesia.

A report was made of 4 cases of chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum infections. The infections, detected in Jakarta, were imported from Kotabumi, Tanjung Karang, the Island of Pidada in the Lampung Province and from Pangkalpinang on the Island Bangka in the Province of South Sumatra. Treatment with courses of 1500 mg chloroquine base and with increased dosages up to 2250 mg base failed to cure the patients. The chloroquine sensitivity test in vitro was carried out in 3 patients, which showed that the Plasmodium falciparum strains were resistant to chloroquine at the R I level. The strains appeared to be similar to the Malaya Camp strain. In vivo observations revealed that the parasites were resistant at the R I level with a delayed recrudescence. The chloroquine resistant falciparum malaria cases, acquired in South Sumatra, may therefore be regarded as the first reported cases from a focus outside the already known two foci in Indonesia, namely East Kalimantan and Irian Jaya. It may be expected that chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum will be encountered in other parts of Indonesia in the near future. The use of a combination of sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine should not be recommended in Indonesia because chloroquine is still considered the drug of choice against all malaria infections in Indonesia.

Toxoplasma antibodies in Obano, Irian Jaya, Indonesia.

A total of 188 sera collected from patients of the Enarotali Hospital and persons living in the surroundings of the hospital in the district of Paniai, Irian Jaya, Indonesia, were tested by indirect hemagglutination tests for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Antibody titers equal to or greater than 1 : 256 were considered positive and were detected in 65 or 34.6% of the persons tested. The seropositivity rates were not significantly different between males and females. The prevalence of antibodies did not increase with age.

Serological study for antibodies to toxoplasma gondii in Jakarta, Indonesia.

A total of 280 sera from medical students, laboratory personnel from the University of Indonesia and other persons living in Jakarta were tested for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii by the indirect hemagglutination test. Antibody titers equal to or greater than 1:256 were considered positive and were detected in 35 or 12.5% of the persons tested. The sero-positivity rates were not significant between 178 males (13.5%) and 102 females (10.8%) but were significantly different between persons of Indonesian ancestry (14.3%) and those of Chinese ancestry (2.3%). No correlation could be found between ownership of domestic cats and eating habits and positive titers.