Pregnancy as a risk factor for acute toxoplasmosis seroconversion.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that pregnancy is a risk factor for toxoplasmosis seroconversion.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
Gestation, potentiating susceptibility to this infection, points to the need of primary and secondary prevention for all pregnant women at risk.
Avelino
Mariza Martins
MM
Department of Pediatrics of the Health Science School, National University of Brasília, Brasília (DF), Brazil. bmb@terra.com.br
Campos
Dioclécio
D
do Carmo Barbosa de Parada
Josetti
J
de Castro
Ana Maria
AM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004522:Educational Status; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000469:parasitology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan