Study on the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in Indonesia: a review

Congenital toxoplasmosis has been confirmed in Indonesia. Many newborn children in Indonesia have congenital anomalies attributable to Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite is widespread, with seroprevalence rates of 2-63% in humans, 35-73% in cats, 75% in dogs, 11-36% in pigs, 11-61% in goats, and less than 10% in cows. The prevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies in pregnant women in the Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta is 14.3%, and in 50 abortions it is 67.8%. In patients with a history of one or more abortions or stillbirths, the prevalence is 21.5% and 22.8%, respectively. No significant difference has been found in women with or without histories of habitual abortions or stillbirths. In adults and children with chorioretinitis, the prevalence of antibody is 60%; in patients with other eye lesions, it is 17%. The prevalence in hydrocephalic children is 10.6%; in children with mental retardation, 44.6%; in children with eye lesions, 44.6%; and in children with signs of systemic diseases, 9.5%. The diagnosis of an acute Toxoplasma infection using the ELISA should be based on a significant increase in IgG levels in paired sera or on detection of IgM.