Pregnancy As a Risk Factor for Acute Toxoplasmosis Seroconversion

Overview

Journal Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol

Specialties Gynecology & Obstetrics
Reproductive Medicine

Date 2003 Apr 16

PMID 12694964

Citations 20

Authors

Mariza Martins Avelino

Dioclecio Campos Jr

Josetti do Carmo Barbosa de Parada

Ana Maria de Castro

Affiliations

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Abstract

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 chi(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.

Citing Articles

Epidemiological Aspects of Maternal and Congenital Toxoplasmosis in Panama.

Flores C, Villalobos-Cerrud D, Borace J, Fabrega L, Norero X, Saez-Llorens X Pathogens. 2021; 10(6).

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Survey of Dirofilaria immitis antigen and antibodies to Leishmania infantum and Toxoplasma gondii in cats from Madeira Island, Portugal.

Neves M, Lopes A, Martins C, Fino R, Paixao C, Damil L Parasit Vectors. 2020; 13(1):117.

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Serum alanine aminotransferase flares in chronic hepatitis B infection: the good and the bad.

Ghany M, Feld J, Chang K, Chan H, Lok A, Visvanathan K Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020; 5(4):406-417.

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Toxoplasmosis outbreak in Brazil, 2006 - Revisited.

Nunes do Rego E Silva G, Branco M, Rodrigues Z, Santos A, Mendes Pereira P, Silva M Parasite Epidemiol Control. 2019; 7:e00117.

PMID: 31485493 PMC: 6715882. DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2019.e00117.

Basic heel prick test: inclusion of screening, diagnosis and criteria for early confirmation of congenital infection by Toxoplasma gondii.

Storchilo H, Rezende H, Gomes T, de Souza J, Gomes Junior A, Avelino M Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2019; 61:e30.

PMID: 31241659 PMC: 6592012. DOI: 10.1590/S1678-9946201961030.