[Seroepidemiology of toxoplasmosis in a marginal community of the Municipality of Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela].
The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in a marginal community of the Municipality of Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela and if there was a relationship between risk factors and infection. An epidemiological survey of personal data, living sanitary conditions and contact with cats was performed. A collection of 254 blood samples from male and female individuals, with ages ranging from 8 months to 76 years, was studied. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii reaction was determined by indirect hemaglutination using a commercial kit. A positive reaction at a dilution > or = 1:64 was considered positive. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-squared test. The prevalence of infection was found to be 36.6%. It was observed that 21.5% of the seropositive presented titers not considered significant (< or = 1:64), 51.6% had intermediate titers (1:128 to 1:512), 24.8% high titers (1:1024 to 1:4096) and 2.1% very high titers (> or = 1:8192). The highest percentage of positivity (50%) was observed in the group > or = 46 years of age. No statistically significant association was observed between prevalence and risk factors (living together with cats and poor sanitary conditions of living) or infection when the chi-square test was used. Toxoplasma gondii infection was often found in the community of Puerto Caballo and probably cats and poor living conditions have a role in the transmission of infection.
Díaz-Suárez
O
O
Instituto de Investigaciones Clínicas Dr. Américo Negrette, Apartado 1151, Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Parra
A M
AM
Araujo-Fernández
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan