Prevalence of toxoplasma IgG among pregnant women in west London according to country of birth and ethnic group.

Infection with Toxoplasma gondii can be acquired from soil contaminated by cats' faeces and by consumption of undercooked meat and unpasteurised goats' milk.' Toxoplasma cysts are killed by freezing or by heating above 45°C.' Matemal infection can result in fetal infection and damage and is estimated to occur in 0 1-05% of pregnancies in the United Kingdom.2 The seroprevalence of toxoplasma IgG is known to vary among countries,' but differences according to country of birth and ethnic group have not previously been investigated in a single population based study.