Seasonal variations in acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in the Rhône-Alpes region (France)

• Published in: Clinical microbiology and infection Vol. 18; no. 10; pp. E401 - E403
• Main Authors: Morin, L., Lobry, J.R., Peyron, F., Wallon, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2012; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Elsevier Limited; Elsevier for the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Antibodies, Protozoan - blood; Chi-Square Distribution; Female; France; France - epidemiology; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulin M - blood; Indexing in process; infections; Life Sciences; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - blood; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - epidemiology; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - parasitology; Rural Population - statistics & numerical data; seasonal variations; Seasons; Toxoplasma gondii; Toxoplasmosis - blood; Toxoplasmosis - epidemiology; France; infections; Toxoplasma gondii; France; seasonal variations; pregnancy
• ISSN: 1198-743X; 1469-0691
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2012.03898.x

To search for seasonal variations we analysed data on 1998 acute toxoplasmic infections diagnosed between 1988 and 2009 in pregnant women. Two distinctive transmission profiles were observed: one in rural areas, which was strongly influenced by seasons with significantly fewer infections in the first half of the year but maximal risks at the end of summer and end of autumn, and a stable urban distribution with only moderate peaks. Further studies on individual risks and environmental and climatic factors are needed to understand what prevention message should be given to susceptible pregnant women.