{"title":"<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> infection risk among pregnant people and congenital toxoplasmosis incidence in Japan.","authors":"Ko Nakajo, Hiroshi Nishiura","doi":"10.1017/S0950268825100150","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acute infection with <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in pregnant people can lead to vertical transmission to the foetus and congenital toxoplasmosis. As part of risk assessment, the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis among pregnant people must be quantitatively elucidated. Herein, we investigated the risk of primary <i>T. gondii</i> infection during pregnancy in Japan, estimating the incidence of <i>T. gondii</i> infection among pregnant people as well as that of congenital toxoplasmosis. We used a compartment model that captured the infection dynamics in pregnant people, analysing prescription data for spiramycin in Japan, together with local serological testing results and the screening rate of primary <i>T. gondii</i> infection during pregnancy. The nationwide risk of <i>T. gondii</i> infection pregnant people in Japan was estimated to be 0.016% per month. Among prefectures investigated, the risk estimate was highest in Tokyo with 0.030% per month. Nationally, the number of <i>T. gondii</i> infections among pregnant people in the years 2019, 2020, and 2021 was estimated to be 1507, 1440, and 1388 infections, respectively. The nationwide number of cases of congenital toxoplasmosis in each year was estimated at 613, 588, and 567 cases, respectively. Our study indicated that <i>T. gondii</i> infection continues to place a substantial burden on public health in Japan.</p>","PeriodicalId":11721,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiology and Infection","volume":"153 ","pages":"e74"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Epidemiology and Infection","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268825100150","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Acute infection with Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant people can lead to vertical transmission to the foetus and congenital toxoplasmosis. As part of risk assessment, the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis among pregnant people must be quantitatively elucidated. Herein, we investigated the risk of primary T. gondii infection during pregnancy in Japan, estimating the incidence of T. gondii infection among pregnant people as well as that of congenital toxoplasmosis. We used a compartment model that captured the infection dynamics in pregnant people, analysing prescription data for spiramycin in Japan, together with local serological testing results and the screening rate of primary T. gondii infection during pregnancy. The nationwide risk of T. gondii infection pregnant people in Japan was estimated to be 0.016% per month. Among prefectures investigated, the risk estimate was highest in Tokyo with 0.030% per month. Nationally, the number of T. gondii infections among pregnant people in the years 2019, 2020, and 2021 was estimated to be 1507, 1440, and 1388 infections, respectively. The nationwide number of cases of congenital toxoplasmosis in each year was estimated at 613, 588, and 567 cases, respectively. Our study indicated that T. gondii infection continues to place a substantial burden on public health in Japan.
期刊介绍:
Epidemiology & Infection publishes original reports and reviews on all aspects of infection in humans and animals. Particular emphasis is given to the epidemiology, prevention and control of infectious diseases. The scope covers the zoonoses, outbreaks, food hygiene, vaccine studies, statistics and the clinical, social and public-health aspects of infectious disease, as well as some tropical infections. It has become the key international periodical in which to find the latest reports on recently discovered infections and new technology. For those concerned with policy and planning for the control of infections, the papers on mathematical modelling of epidemics caused by historical, current and emergent infections are of particular value.