INTRODUCTION: Toxoplasma gondii infection has been described as the most widespread zoonotic infection of humans and other animals. Information concerning T. gondii infection among schoolchildren is unavailable in Lagos City, Nigeria. METHODS: This cross-sectional study investigated the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii infection among primary schoolchildren (PSC) from a community located in the center of Lagos, southern Nigeria, from November 2013 to March 2014. A total of 382 PSC were screened for the presence of sera anti-T. gondii antibodies using a latex agglutination test (TOXO Test-MT, Tokyo, Japan). A cutoff titer of ≥ 1:32 was considered positive, while titers ≥ 1:1,024 indicated high responders. Questionnaires were also used to obtain data on possible risk factors from parents/guardians. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence was 24% (91/382), and 83.5% (76/91) of seropositive PSC were classified as high responders. Among the risk factors tested, including contact with cats and soil, consumption of raw meat and vegetables, and drinking unboiled water, none showed statistical significance after multivariate adjustment. No associations were observed among age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and parents' occupation/educational level. CONCLUSIONS: The findings in this study show evidence of active infection, and hence, there is need for urgent preventive measures in this city. Further investigation is required to clarify the transmission routes. Policy makers also need to initiate prevention and control programs to protect pregnant women and immunocompromised patients in particular because they are more severely affected by T. gondii infection.

INTRODUÇÃO: Foi investigado se haviam realmente diminuído ou não as infecções Enterobius vermicularis (oxiúros) entre pré-escolares dos bercários da Cidade de Taipei, Taiwan. MÉTODOS: Foram seleccionadas aleatoriamente 6.661 crianças das pré-escolas dos 28 berçários dos principais distritos na Cidade de Taipei para examinar o estado da infecção oxiuríases por meio do uso do método de fita adesiva (transparente) com mecha de algodão. RESULTADOS: A prevalência global da infecção oxiúros foi de 0,5% (30-6.661). A dos meninos (0,6%, 21/3.524) foi ainda maior do que das meninas (0,3%, 9/3.137) (p = 0,06), sem significancia estatistica. O distrito do sul (0,6%, 10/1.789) mostrou-prevalência mais alta do que o distrito da parte ocidental (0,2%, 1/606) (p = 0,22), sem significância estatistica. CONCLUSÕES: O programa de triagem de oxiúros continua a ser necessário em algumas partes da Cidade de Taipei.

INTRODUCTION: Whether Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) infections among preschool children in Taipei City had truly declined was investigated. METHODS: A total of 6,661 preschool children from 28 nurseries were randomly selected from 4 major geographic districts in Taipei City to examine the status of pinworm infection by using adhesive thin cellophane tape swab method. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of pinworm infection was 0.5% (30/6,661). Boys (0.6%; 21/3,524) had higher prevalence than girls (0.3%; 9/3,137) (p=0.06). Southern district (0.6%; 10/1,789) showed insignificantly higher prevalence than Western district (0.2%; 1/606) (p=0.22). CONCLUSIONS: Pinworm screening program remains necessary for some parts of Taipei City.