title: Socioeconomic conditions as determining factors in the prevalence of systemic and ocular toxoplasmosis in Northeastern Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of systemic and ocular toxoplasmosis among 1024 students in the city of Natal, Northeastern Brazil, and correlate it with demographic, socioeconomic and epidemiological risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population was randomly selected, asked to fill out a questionnaire, provide a blood sample for IgG and IgM (MEIA) serology and a hemogram, and undergo an eye examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The seroprevalence for IgG was 46% (95% CI = 42.9-49.2%) and that for IgM was 1.4% (95% CI = 0.8-2.4%). The prevalence of ocular lesions was 1.15% (95% CI = 0.6-2.0%). In the univariate analyses, confirmed by multivariate analysis, the socioeconomic conditions were determinants in the prevalence of systemic and ocular toxoplasmosis (mother's schooling = literacy/OR = 2.9 and p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of systemic toxoplasmosis, although high, was lower than that found in studies performed in the South and Southeast of Brazil, and the incidence of ocular lesions was totally different, being lower by a factor varying from 5 to 17. Although important epidemiological variables, such as owning a cat, drinking unfiltered water or having had contact with lakes or rivers, were found to be correlated with toxoplasmosis in the preliminary analysis, they lost their influence when included in the logistic model. However, further studies must be undertaken to identify the reasons for these findings, including the determination of the strains of Toxoplasma gondii encountered in different regions of the country and the sources of the water utilized by these populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Rua Ceará Mirim, 316 Tirol, Natal/RN, Brazil. prontoc.de.olhos@digi.com.br
authors.forename: Carlos Alexandre
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: de Amorim Garcia
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oréfice
authors.forename: Clélia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Lyra
authors.forename: Alexandre Bezerra
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Mardone
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: França
authors.forename: Carlos Alexandre
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: de Amorim Garcia Filho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan