Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma Gondii Infection among Pre-Schoolchildren Aged 1-5 Years in the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Western Africa

The prevalence status of Toxoplasma gondii infection in children of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe (DRSTP), Western Africa, is unknown to date. A serologic survey of T gondii infection among pre- schoolchildren aged = 2 years (82.61 %; 19/23) had high LA titres of >= 1:1024, indirectly indicating acute Toxoplasma infection. This study is the first report indicating that T gondii infection is not low in pre- schoolchildren aged < 5 years in the DRSTP. Whether the DRSTP pre-schoolchildren acquire T gondii infection through constant exposure to the parasite from their daily activities owing to poor environmental hygiene should be further evaluated. (c) 2005 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved