SEROLOGIC AND EPIDEMIOLOGIC OBSERVATIONS ON TOXOPLASMOSIS ON THREE PACIFIC ATOLLS

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Abstract
Wallace, G. D. (Pacific Research Section, NIAID, P.O. Box 1680, Honolulu, Hawaii 96806). Serologic and epidemiologic observations on toxoplasmosis on three Pacific atolls. Amer. J. Epid., 1969, 90; 103–111.—The epidemiology of toxoplasmosis was investigated on three remote and ecologically simple atolls In the western Pacific. The atolls, Eauripik, Ifalik, and Woleai, are located within 80 miles of each other but travel between them and contact with the outside world is infrequent. The Micronesian residents share the same culture, types of food, and similar environment in general. The prevalence of human infection, as measured by the presence of dye-test antibodies, was high on Ifalik, moderate on Woleai, and nearly absent on Eauripik. On Ifalik and Woleai, there was also serologic evidence of infection in rats, the only wild mammal present, and in the domestic animals, including cats, dogs, and pigs. On Eauripik, however, rats and cats had not become established and the dogs and pigs were serologically negative, except for one dog that had been imported from Woleai. Cats or rats appeared to be the most likely reservoir of Toxoplasma in the atolls. The consumption of raw meat did not appear to be an important source of human infection.

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