title: The Seropositivity of Toxocara spp. Antibodies in Pregnant Women Attented at the University Hospital in Southern Brazil and the Factors Associated with Infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human toxocariasis is a parasitic zoonosis with a worldwide distribution but is underdiagnosed with an underestimated impact on human health. The ingestion of embryonated eggs of Toxocara spp. present on the hands or in contaminated food or water is the main mode of infection. The only record of Toxocara congenital infection in humans occurred in a premature infant. Helminth infections during pregnancy may be associated with reproductive disorders. Studies investigating the occurrence of toxocariasis in pregnancy are scarce, as is research on the possible implications of these parasites in reproductive health. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxocara spp. in pregnant women and to identify risk factors associated with its infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cross-sectional study of the seropositivity of specific antibodies for Toxocara spp. was performed on 280 pregnant women. Serum samples were examined with enzyme-linked immunoassay. Epidemiological data were obtained through a questionnaire containing information about obstetric history, general life style choices, and the social and economic status of the women. The prevalence of Toxocara spp. IgG in pregnant women was 6.4%. Some of the risk factors associated with the infection were owning dogs (p = 0.003), living in the city centre (p = 0.028), living at the city beach (p = 0.003), and having a family income at or below minimum wage (p < 0.001). There was no association between reproductive disorders and Toxocara seropositivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The seroprevalence of 6.4% for Toxocara spp. in pregnant women shows that there was exposure to the parasite. The study demonstrates the need for attention for the completion of clinical diagnosis parameters, as well as the expansion of highly specific serological studies in different regions to understand the impact of toxocariasis in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine-FAMED, Area Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences (AICB) Federal University of Rio Grande-FURG Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula Costa
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine-FAMED, Area Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences (AICB) Federal University of Rio Grande-FURG Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lis Maurente
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine-FAMED, Area Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences (AICB) Federal University of Rio Grande-FURG Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lorenzi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine-FAMED, Area Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences (AICB) Federal University of Rio Grande-FURG Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine-FAMED, Area Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences (AICB) Federal University of Rio Grande-FURG Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula Lima
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Telmo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine-FAMED, Area Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences (AICB) Federal University of Rio Grande-FURG Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela Torres
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Mattos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine-FAMED, Area Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences (AICB) Federal University of Rio Grande-FURG Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Priscila Silva
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Cadore
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine-FAMED, Area Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences (AICB) Federal University of Rio Grande-FURG Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriel Baracy
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Klafke
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Elisabeth Aires
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Berne
authors.affiliation: Obstetric Center, University Hospital of Rio Grande-Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carla Vitola
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine-FAMED, Area Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences (AICB) Federal University of Rio Grande-FURG Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos James
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Scaini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D001493:Bathing Beaches; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014119:Toxocara / Q000276:immunology*; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth