SEROPREVALENCE OF ANTIBODIES AGAINST TOXOPLASMA-GONDII AMONG RECENTLYIMMIGRATING ETHIOPIAN JEWS

Sera from 144 Ethiopian immigrants who arrived in operation Solomon, 1 991, living in three absorption centers in the Jezreel Valley were tes ted for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii. Antibodies were found in 34% of the test group, with a rise in prevalence with age from 0% in the first decade to 46% in the >40 age-groups. The prevalence in the E thiopians was higher than in Jewish kibbutz members (22.8%) and lower than in Arab villagers (55.8%). During the reproductive years (age 20- 39) the mte of seroconversion is 1% per year, and screening of pregnan t Ethiopian women for antibodies to T. gondii should be considered.