title: [Risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii and immune status of pregnant women: cause and effect?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is found world-wide. The differences in prevalence across the countries may be ascribed to variations in hygiene and eating habits.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify preventable risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnancy through a transversal study achieved in the laboratory of Parasitology Mycology of Rabta including all pregnant women referred to the laboratory between March 2010 and February 2011 to serological testing for toxoplasmosis methods: The age, the stage of the current pregnancy and exposures to potential risk factors associated with Toxoplasma infection were collected by a questionnaire. An analysis with SPSS and chi-square was used to analyse exposure frequencies for each risk factor variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2351 women were included. The median age of the pregnany women was 29.4 years (range, 16 - 48 years). In all, 47.7% of them were seropositive. Seropositivity for toxoplasmosis was significantly associated with eating undercooked meat (p = 0.002) and eating miswashed vegetables (p = 0.003). However, the other factors (contact with cats, cleaning the cat litter box, washing the hands after preparation of raw meat, contact with the ground) were found to be independently associated with seropositivity toxoplasmosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Tunisia, there is still no prevention program toxoplasmosis well structured. Health education on avoidance of maternal infection is an important aspect of any program for prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis.
authors.forename: Najla
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fakhfakh
authors.forename: Kalthoum
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kallel
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ennigro
authors.forename: Emira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaouech
authors.forename: Sleh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belhadj
authors.forename: Emna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chaker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014416:Tunisia; D055815:Young Adult