1. Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection among two mountain aboriginal populations and Southeast Asian laborers in Taiwan.
- Author
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Fan CK, Su KE, Wu GH, and Chiou HY
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Animals, Antibodies, Protozoan blood, Asia, Southeastern ethnology, Child, Female, Humans, Latex Fixation Tests, Male, Middle Aged, Multivariate Analysis, Racial Groups, Risk Factors, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Sex Factors, Surveys and Questionnaires, Taiwan epidemiology, Toxoplasmosis immunology, Toxoplasmosis parasitology, Toxoplasma isolation & purification, Toxoplasmosis epidemiology
- Abstract
A seroepidemiological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection among Atayal and Paiwan mountain aborigines and Southeast Asian laborers in Taiwan was assessed from February 1998 to July 2000 using a latex agglutination test. To determine risk factors for T. gondii infection among Taiwan aborigines, the consumption of raw meat and valley water were given particular attention in a self-administered questionnaire. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 19.4% for Atayal, 26.7% for Paiwan, 42.9% for Indonesian, 14.7% for Thai, and 11.3% for Filipinos. No significant gender difference in seroprevalence was found among Atayals, Paiwans, Indonesians, and Filipinos (P > 0.05). In the Thai group, however, males had a higher seroprevalence than females (P < 0.001). Results of the multiple logistic regression analysis indicate a higher odds ratios (OR) with age in both aboriginal groups. In contrast, the OR was lower among older Indonesians and Thais. Those Atayals and Paiwans with a history of eating raw meat seemed more susceptible to T. gondii infection than those who had never consumed raw meat. Ethnically, a significant difference in seroprevalence was observed between Indonesians and Paiwans, Atayals, Thais, and Filipinos (P < 0.001).
- Published
- 2002
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