ABSTRACT

Toxoplasmosis is a major health problem in both developed and developing countries. Infection is transmitted to humans by consumption of raw or undercooked meat containing tissue cysts and by ingesting foods contaminated with oocysts from the feces of infected cats and felidae. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the incidence of T. gondii antibodies in 347 high school students from 28 different countries studying in Kayseri city.

These students had ages ranging between 15 and 21 (average: 17.52±1.36). Serum samples were researched by IFAT for T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies.

81 (23.3%) students were found to be seropositive for IgG, and 6 (1.72%) of students were positivefor both IgG and IgM. There was no IgM seropositivity in IgG negative serum specimens. IgG avidity test was also done for 87 subjects who were found to be seropositive for anti-T. gondii IgG. The results indicated that 8 (9.2%) patients have equivocal range avidity and 79 (90.8%) patients have high avidity.

As a result, this disease, which is important in children and adolescents, can lead to severe disease staes. Therefore, in various regions, especially in the pediatric age group, sero-prevalence tests and necessary measures are needed in high sero-prevalent areas.

Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, foreign high school students, IFAT