[Seroepidemiology of toxoplasmosis in a Yucpa Amerindian community of Sierra de Perijá, Zulia State, Venezuela].
BACKGROUND
There is a high rate of Toxoplasma gondii infection worldwide. In Latin America the rate is as high as 65% in some populations.


OBJECTIVE
To measure the prevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in a native Yucpa community in Venezuela.


METHODS
Total serum antibodies measured by indirect hemagglutination and IgM antibodies by ELISA were measured in 94 Yucpa subjects (49 males), aged from 3 months to 100 years.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of infection was 63%. Fifty nine subjects had total antibodies and 14 had IgM antibodies. No significant differences by age or sex, were observed in the proportion of subjects with positive total or IgM antibodies.


CONCLUSIONS
The studied individuals had a high prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection.
Díaz-Suárez
Odelis
O
Instituto de Investigaciones Clínicas Dr. Américo Negrette, Facultad de Medicina, La Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Estado Zulia, Venezuela. majuodelis@yahoo.com
Estévez
Jesús
J
García
María
M
Cheng-Ng
Rosita
R
Araujo
José
J
García
Marina
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007199:Indians, South American; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007075:Immunoglobulin M