Pregnancy as a risk factor for acute toxoplasmosis seroconversion

Objective: To test the hypothesis that pregnancy is a risk factor for toxoplasmosis seroconversion. Materials and methods: A prospective observational study of women at child-bearing age vulnerable to Toxoplasma gondii. Serological reactions with indirect immunofluorescent antibody and immunoenzyme...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology 2003-05, Vol.108 (1), p.19-24
Main Authors: Avelino, Mariza Martins, Campos, Dioclécio, de Parada, Josetti do Carmo Barbosa, de Castro, Ana Maria
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women
Adolescent
Adult
Analysis. Health state
Animals
Antibodies, Protozoan - blood
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Contaminant elements
Disease Susceptibility
Educational Status
Environment
Epidemiology
Female
General aspects
Host animals
Human protozoal diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Parasitic diseases
Poverty
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - parasitology
Protozoal diseases
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Risk Factors
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis - diagnosis
Toxoplasmosis - epidemiology
Toxoplasmosis - parasitology
Tropical medicine
Vehicles of oocyst transmission
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Summary:Objective: To test the hypothesis that pregnancy is a risk factor for toxoplasmosis seroconversion. Materials and methods: A prospective observational study of women at child-bearing age vulnerable to Toxoplasma gondii. Serological reactions with indirect immunofluorescent antibody and immunoenzyme tests were used. The risk estimate used limits of reliability at 95%, and the results were validated by χ 2 and RR tests. Results: Acute infection among pregnant women was 8.6% (45/522), and pregnancy was confirmed to be a risk factor for seroconversion ( P=0.001). Living in close contact with host animals and vehicles of oocyst transmission proved to be a statistical risk for pregnant women to seroconvert, which was aggravated in adolescents. Conclusion: Gestation, potentiating susceptibility to this infection, points to the need of primary and secondary prevention for all pregnant women at risk.
ISSN:0301-2115
1872-7654
DOI:10.1016/S0301-2115(02)00353-6