title: [Prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in two reference centers in a city in Northeast Brazil].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis and to identify the main factors associated with seroreactivity in pregnant women cared for at two reference centers in a city in Northeast Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted on 561 pregnant women at two high-risk prenatal reference centers in a city in Northeast Brazil. All women were interviewed using an epidemiological questionnaire and had their blood samples collected for the following serological tests: anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM (ELISA), IgG avidity test, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 18.0 for Windows, calculating odds ratio, confidence interval of 95% and with the level of significance set at 5%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seroreactivity for toxoplasmosis was detected in 437 women (77.0%), susceptibility in 124 (22.1%) and active infection in 5 (0.9%). There was no significant association between seroreactivity for toxoplasmosis and age, location, income, education, availability of sewage, number of pregnancies or gestational age. The variables significantly associated (p≤0.05) with seroreactivity were multiparity (p=0.03) and living with stray dogs (p=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study identified high seroreactivity for toxoplasmosis among patients seen during prenatal care, as well as factors associated with seroreactivity. Appropriate guidelines about primary preventive measures should be emphasized and quarterly serological monitoring is recommended for pregnant women in this city and elsewhere in the Northeast of Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos Superiores de Caxias, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, Caxias, MA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Joseneide Teixeira
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Câmara
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Centro Universitário Regional de Gurupi, Gurupi, TO, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marcos Gontijo da
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia, Parasitologia e Patologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ana Maria de
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Castro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult