title: Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in pregnant women and their newborn infants in the region of São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Toxoplasmosis transmission during pregnancy can cause severe sequelae in fetuses and newborns. Maternal antibodies may be indicators of risk or immunity. The aim here was to evaluate seropositivity for anti-Toxoplasma gondii (anti-T. gondii) immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and IgG avidity in pregnant women and their newborn infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study in a high-risk pregnancy outpatient clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples from pregnant women (n = 87) and their respective newborns (n = 87) were evaluated for anti-T. gondii antibodies using indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) (IgM and IgG), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (IgG) and an avidity test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-T. gondii antibodies were identified in 64.4% of the serum samples from the mothers and their infants (56/87). Except for two maternal serum samples (2.3%), all others were negative for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies, using IIF. The results showed that 92.9% of the pregnant women had high IgG avidity indexes (> 30%) and four samples had avidity indexes between 16 and 30%. Two women in the third trimester of pregnancy were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies; their babies had avidity indexes between 16 and 30%. The avidity indexes of serum from the other 83 newborns were similar to the results from their mothers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that 2% of the pregnant women were at risk of T. gondii transmission during the gestational period. These data seem to reflect the real situation of gestational toxoplasmosis in the northwestern region of the state of São Paulo.
authors.affiliation: Immunogenetics Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cinara de Cássia Brandão de
authors.initials: Cde C
authors.lastname: Mattos
authors.forename: Lígia Cosentino Junqueira Franco
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Spegiorin
authors.forename: Cristina da Silva
authors.initials: Cda S
authors.lastname: Meira
authors.forename: Thaís da Costa
authors.initials: Tda C
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Ana Iara da Costa
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Vera Lúcia
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Pereira-Chioccola
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos de
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Mattos
mesh_terms: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M