Features of toxoplasmosis in the Caribbean - abstract

ABSTRACT

In 1995 and 1996, 7.5 percent of 321 serum samples (IgM) and 48.0 percent of 352 serujm samples (IgG) assayed for antibiotics at CAREC, were positive for exposure to Toxoplasma. IgM antibodies were not detected in the first 6 months of life, but thereafter levels rose to peak (27.3 percent) in the >6 month - 10 year age group. IgG rose from 16.7 percent in the youngest to 62 percent in the adult age group. Symptoms most commonly associated with positive IgMs were lymphadenopathy (20.8 percent) > eye disease (11.8 percent) > congenital events (7.7 percent). IgG antibodies were associated with eye diseases (53.5 percent) > congenital manifestation (50.0 percent) > missed abortions(41.0 percent) >lymphadenopathy (36.0 percent) > perinatal events (27.8 percent) > central nervous systems symptoms (21.1 percent). IgM determinants were more commonly obtained in sera from Suriname (7.7 percent) > Barbados (7.4 percent) > St. Lucia (4.2 percent). For IgGs the order was Grenada (66.7 percent) > St Lucia (61.1 percent) > St. Vincent (50.0 percent) > Barbados (47.8 percent) >Suriname (46.2 percent). (AU)