You have full text access to this OnlineOpen article

New and old risk-factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection: prospective cross-sectional study among military personnel in the Czech Republic

  1. P. Kolbekova1,
  2. E. Kourbatova2,
  3. M. Novotna1,
  4. P. Kodym3,
  5. J. Flegr1

Article first published online: 6 JUL 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2007.01771.x

Issue

Clinical Microbiology and Infection

Clinical Microbiology and Infection

Volume 13, Issue 10, pages 1012–1017, October 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Kolbekova, P., Kourbatova, E., Novotna, M., Kodym, P. and Flegr, J. (2007), New and old risk-factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection: prospective cross-sectional study among military personnel in the Czech Republic. Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 13: 1012–1017. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2007.01771.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

  2. 2

    Division of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russian Federation

  3. 3

    National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic

*Corresponding author and reprint requests: J. Flegr, Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Vinicna 7, Prague 12844, Czech Republic E-mail: flegr@cesnet.cz

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 6 JUL 2007
  2. Article first published online: 6 JUL 2007
  3. Original Submission: 10 January 2007; Revised Submission: 23 March 2007; Accepted: 23 April 2007

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article with Supporting Information (HTML) Get PDF (502K)

Keywords:

  • Cats;
  • Czech Republic;
  • risk-factors;
  • seroprevalence;
  • toxoplasmosis;
  • transmission

Abstract

The aims of this study were to evaluate seroprevalence and the importance of various risk-factors for Toxoplasma infection in the Czech Republic. A prospective cross-sectional survey was conducted among military personnel in Prague. Consenting subjects (n = 3250) completed a questionnaire concerning demographics and risk-factors, and blood samples were taken to determine anti-Toxoplasma antibody titres according to complement fixation and ELISA IgG and IgM tests. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 23%. In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of Toxoplasma seropositivity were age (OR 1.03 / year), consumption of raw meat (OR 1.35), owning a cat (OR 1.25), owning rabbits (OR 1.47), childhood residence in a town with a population of <10 000 inhabitants (OR 1.63) vs. location of the childhood residence in a town with population of >100 000 inhabitants, and blood group type A (OR 1.28), B (OR 1.33) or AB (OR 1.43) vs. O. These results suggested that horizontal toxoplasmosis transmission in the Czech Republic may occur through consumption of raw meat, contact with cat faeces and farming.

View Full Article with Supporting Information (HTML) Get PDF (502K)