SCREENING FOR TOXOPLASMOSIS IN PREGNANCY - A PILOT PROJECT IN NORTHEAST GERMANY

A general serological screening of pregnant women for toxoplasmosis wa s carried out by means of an IgG-ELISA in Greifswald and its surroundi ngs from October 1986 to the end of 1990. Anti-toxoplasma gondii antib odies were detected in 72.8% of 4355 pregnant women. Since 1987, the p revalence of antibodies has decreased from 76% to 68%. The incidence o f acquired toxoplasmosis in pregnancy was 2.53 per 1000. Seroconversio n occurred in 11 women, but only 8 of them were treated with combined pyrimethamine and sulphamerazine. Despite treatment we observed 3 conn atal infections. No newborn infant had clinical symptoms. With regard to the epidemiological situation, a toxoplasmosis screening is recomme ndable, at least in our area, from an ethical, moral, medical and econ omical point of view. To ensure, that toxoplasmosis screening is adequ ately effective, treatment of the pregnant women and their infants mus t be guaranteed both organisationally and professionally. It must also comprise health education measures, especially for non-immunised wome n to avoid the well-known main sources of infection.