Table 2.
Characteristics of European epidemiological surveillance programmes for toxoplasmosis. Eurotoxo, 2007
| Country | Year started | Population under surveillance | Case definition | Reporting sources | Frequency of analysis | Frequency of surveillance reports | Surveillance report distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surveillance systems specifically dedicated to congenital toxoplasmosis | |||||||
| Denmark | 1999 | Live newborns | Detection of IgM on blood filter sample confirmed by IgA, IgM and IgG profile in newborn and mother | Statens Serum Institut | NA | Annually | Healthcare authorities |
| France | 2007 | Foetuses, newborns and infants | PCR, mouse inoculation, cell culture or immunocytochemistry on body tissues or fluids; detection of specific IgM or IgA antibodies; neosynthesis of specific IgG, IgM or IgA antibodies.; persistence of IgG until one year of age | Laboratories qualified for antenatal or postnatal diagnosis | NA | NA | Healthcare authorities |
| Germany | NA | Live newborns and infants | Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in body tissues or fluids; detection of specific IgM or IgA antibodies; persistently stable specific IgG titres or a single elevated specific IgG titre | Laboratories | Continuous | Quarterly and annually | Free access on the Website of the Robert Koch Institute |
| Italy* | 1997 | Live newborns | Persistence of IgG until one year of age | Social workers Paediatricians Neonatalogists |
Annually | Annually | National Health Institute, physicians, Regional Public Health Surveillance on Infectious Diseases |
| Surveillance systems dedicated to toxoplasmosis (congenital or not) | |||||||
| Bulgaria | NA | All | EU (notifiable disease) | Physicians Laboratories Epidemiologists |
Annually | Monthly and annually | Ministry of Health National Centre of Health Information National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases |
| Cyprus | 2004 | All | EU (notifiable disease) | All registered medical practitioners | Weekly | Twice a year | Physicians |
| Czech Republic | 1970 | All | EU (notifiable disease) | Epidemiologists | Monthly | Monthly and annually | Epidemiologists, Physicians Laboratories |
| England and Wales | 1975 | All | EU (notifiable disease) | Toxoplasma Reference Unit Swansea | Monthly | Quarterly and annually | Electronic distribution (http://www.hpa.org.uk/hpr) |
| Estonia | 1997 | All | EU (notifiable disease) | General practitioners Laboratories |
Monthly | Monthly and annually | Health protection Inspectorate and Ministry of Social Affairs |
| Ireland | 2004 | All | EU (notifiable disease) | All registered medical practitioners Laboratories |
Weekly and annually | Weekly and annually | Physicians, Public health departments and population (Website) |
| Latvia | 1995 | All | EU (notifiable disease) | Physicians Epidemiologists |
Annually | Monthly and annually | Ministry of Health, Physicians |
| Lithuania | 1992 | All | EU (notifiable disease) | All registered medical practitioners | Monthly and annually | Monthly and annually | Territorial healthcare institutions, Ministry of Health, European surveillance networks, WHO |
| Malta | 2004 | All | EU (notifiable disease) | Physicians Laboratories |
Continuous | Weekly, monthly and annually | Physicians, Ministry of Health, WHO |
| Poland | 1966◆ | All | EU (notifiable disease) | Physicians | Occasionally | Quarterly and annually | Public administrations, research institutions sanitary stations |
| Scotland | 1988 | All | EU (notifiable disease) | Laboratories | Continuous | Available on Website | Free access for all (on demand) |
| Slovakia | 1975 | All | EU (notifiable disease) | Physicians | Monthly and annually | Monthly and annually | Physicians, Ministry of Health |
NA: Not available; WHO: World Health Organization;
as defined by the European Union4
*
Regional surveillance system (Campania country)
Distinction between acquired and congential toxoplasmosis since 1999
◆
Distinction between acquired and congential toxoplasmosis since 1997.