Objective: Germany was iodine deficient until the mid-1990s when a nationwide iodine fortification program became effective. It is expected that after a longer period of sufficient iodine supply, median TSH values in the general population will shift to the right. Hence, the previous TSH reference range does not reflect the current TSH distribution in the general population of Germany. Thus, we aimed to establish a new reference range for serum TSH levels. Design and methods: We used data from the Study of Health in Pomerania TREND, a population-based study including 4420 individuals. The reference population consisted of 1596 individuals without diagnosed thyroid diseases or thyroid-related findings in ultrasound and serum analysis. Serum TSH levels were measured by an immunochemiluminescent procedure on a Siemens Dimension Vista. Results: The overall reference range for TSH was 0.49 mIU/l (95% CIZ0.44; 0.53)-3.29 mIU/l (95% CIZ3.08; 3.50). The lower reference limit differed significantly by sex, whereas the upper reference limit showed no significant difference between males and females. Age was significantly associated with the 2.5th TSH percentile in males but not in females, whereas age was significantly associated in males and females for the 97.5th TSH percentile. Conclusions: We demonstrate a shift toward the right of the TSH reference range in comparison with data from the same study region 10 years earlier, which is likely due to the improved iodine supply of the study region. Our study indicates that TSH reference limits are dependent on past and current iodine supply of populations.

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BackgroundOnly a few studies like ours have investigated the effect of long-term stable iodine supply on thyroid disorders in a historically iodine-deficient population, but not with a long follow-up time of 10 years.MethodsData were derived from two independent population-based cohorts of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-0 [1997–2001] and SHIP-TREND [2008–2012]) comprising 4308 and 4420 subjects, respectively. Diagnosed thyroid disorders were assessed. Thyroid gland dimensions were examined by ultrasound. Levels of serum thyrotropin (TSH) and autoantibodies to thyroperoxidase (anti-TPO Abs) were measured from blood samples.ResultsMedian urinary iodine excretion levels decreased from 123.0 μg/l to 112.0 μg/l (p = <0.001) between 2000 and 2010. The prevalence of known thyroid disorders increased from 7.6 % [CI 6.9–8.5] to 18.9 % [CI 17.6–20.1] and of thyroid medication use from 6.2 to 11.1 %. The prevalence of goiter decreased from 35.1 to 29.4 % (p = <0.001), while the prevalence of positive anti-TPO Abs decreased from 3.9 to 2.9 % (p = 0.022). Median serum TSH levels increased from 0.69 mIU/L to 1.19 mIU/L (p = <0.001). Consequently, prevalence of high TSH (mIU/L) increased from 2.6 to 2.9 % (p = 0.452), and low TSH (mIU/L) decreased from 6.6 to 6.4 % (p = 0.737).ConclusionThe decreased prevalence of iodine-deficient disorders and a stable prevalence of markers of autoimmune thyroid disorders argue for an improved iodine supply of the adult population in Northeast Germany. In contrast, the prevalence of diagnosed thyroid disorders and the intake of thyroid medication increased, although this might be related to inappropriate therapeutic decisions.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12963-016-0111-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Theileria annulata in large ruminants from two districts, Peshawar and Kohat, in Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa (Pakistan). Blood samples were collected from 95 cattle. Data on the characteristics of animals and herds were collected through questionnaires. No significant risk factors were found associated with the spread of tropical theileriosis in the study area. Two different parasite detection techniques, PCR amplification and screening of Giemsa stained slides, were compared and it was found that PCR amplification is a more sensitive tool (33.7% parasite detection), as compared to smear scanning (5.2% parasite detection) for the detection of Theileria annulata. 32 out of 95 animals, from both districts, produced the 721-bp fragment specific for Theileria annulata.

Iodine deficiency remains a considerable challenge worldwide, even after decades of efforts to address the problem. The aim of this review is to present the current situation in historically iodine-deficient Pakistan regarding iodine nutritional status and place it in a global perspective. We collected relevant articles from online bibliographic databases and websites of concerned organizations that addressed prevalence of goiter/iodine deficiency and barriers to sustainable control. We divided the studies into pre- and post-1994, a landmark year when Pakistan formally adopted the universal salt iodization (USI) programme. Overall, 56 studies reported goiter/iodine deficiency prevalence in Pakistan. Before 1994, six studies (30%) reported a goiter prevalence ≥70%, while nine studies (45%) reported a goiter prevalence between 30% and 70%. Only five studies (25%) found a goiter prevalence less than 30%, of which only two studies reported prevalence <10%. From 1994 onwards, 15 studies (41.7%) reported a goiter/iodine deficiency (ID) prevalence ≥50%, of which seven studies reported prevalence ≥70%, while three studies (8.3%) found a goiter prevalence of 30%–49%, nine studies (25%) found a goiter prevalence of 10%–29%, and five studies (13.9%) reported prevalence of <10%. Four studies (11.1%) reported lower goiter prevalence but higher prevalence of iodine deficiency. The efforts in the past two decades resulted in up to a 50% decline in iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Variable remaining factors and the recent results, however, indicate that this decline may be non-uniform and even over-estimated. Coordinated and regionally adopted efforts for eradication of IDD from all stakeholders should be pursued. Policy makers should take steps to protect future generations and alert concerned organizations about the importance of careful assessments and estimates of iodine nutritional status.