title: Epidemiological and serological profiles of ocular toxoplasmosis in the municipality of Natal, northeastern Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toxoplasma gondii is the main culprit in most cases of infectious uveitis, in both acute and recurrent cases of congenital toxoplasmosis and acquired infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ocular toxoplasmosis was evaluated in patients at the the reference unit in ophthalmology, in Rio Grande do Norte State, determining the risk factors, and the epidemic, serological and clinical profiles. The production of IgM and IgG antibodies to T. gondii was evaluated by microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA). The same patients diagnosed with fundoscopic alterations have been subjected to the fundus photography procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 116 patients with positive serology, 66 patients had bilateral ocular damage and 38 patients showed a higher frequency of lesions of type I. The epidemiological investigation showed that direct contact with cats, the consumption of raw or undercooked meat and direct contact with soil are factors not related to ocular toxoplasmosis development. The characterization of the sample was significant for patients aged 31-40 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ocular toxoplasmosis is widely distributed in Natal and other cities in Rio Grande do Norte state, with special relevance for bilateral lesions in 56.9% of the patients assessed, the most frequent being type I with intraocular disposition in the macula.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia da Malária e Toxoplasmose - LaBMAT, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia. Centro de Biociências. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), 59078-970, Natal/RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Norma H D
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia da Malária e Toxoplasmose - LaBMAT, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia. Centro de Biociências. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), 59078-970, Natal/RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudio B S
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oftalmologia, Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Complexo Hospitalar e de Saúde, UFRN, 59.012-300, Natal/RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Análises Clínicas Central, Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Complexo Hospitalar e de Saúde, UFRN, 59.012-300, Natal/RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cecília M X C
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Holanda
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia da Malária e Toxoplasmose - LaBMAT, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia. Centro de Biociências. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), 59078-970, Natal/RN, Brazil aneto@cb.ufrn.br.
authors.forename: Valter F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Andrade-Neto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D014605:Uveitis / Q000469:parasitology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
keywords: Brazil; Ocular toxoplasmosis; Risk factors; Seroprevalence; Uveitis