title: Seroprevalence and correlates of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Yoremes (Mayos) in Mexico: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: We sought to determine the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in Yoremes and to identify associations of T. gondii exposure with sociodemographic, clinical and behavioural characteristics of Yoremes.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  
  Yoremes were enrolled in the locality of Tierra Blanca in the municipality of Navojoa in Sonora State, Mexico.
  
  
  
  We studied 200 Yoremes (Mayos); they are an indigenous ethnic group living in a coastal region in northwestern Mexico.
  
  
  
  We assessed the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies in participants using enzyme-linked immunoassays. We used a standardised questionnaire to obtain the characteristics of Yoremes. The association of T. gondii exposure and Yoremes' characteristics was assessed by bivariate and multivariate analyses.
  
  
  
  Of the 200 Yoremes studied (mean age: 31.50±18.43 years), 26 (13.0%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies and 19 (73.1%) of them were also positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection did not vary with sex, educational level, occupation or socioeconomic status. In contrast, multivariate analysis of sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics showed that T. gondii exposure was associated with increasing age (OR=1.02; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.04; p=0.03) and consumption of squirrel meat (OR=4.99; 95% CI 1.07 to 23.31; p=0.04). Furthermore, seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was significantly higher in Yoremes with a history of lymphadenopathy (p=0.03) and those suffering from frequent abdominal pain (p=0.03). In women, T. gondii exposure was associated with a history of caesarean sections (p=0.03) and miscarriages (p=0.02).
  
  
  
  We demonstrate, for the first time, serological evidence of T. gondii exposure among Yoremes in Mexico. Results suggest that infection with T. gondii might be affecting the health of Yoremes. Results may be useful for an optimal design of preventive measures against T. gondii infection.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Biomedical Research Laboratory, Juárez University of Durango State, Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Cosme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarado-Esquivel
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rascón-Careaga
authors.affiliation: Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juárez University of Durango State, Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernández-Tinoco
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
authors.forename: María Alba Guadalupe
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Corella-Madueño
authors.affiliation: Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juárez University of Durango State, Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Luis Francisco
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Anguiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Postgraduate in Food, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, UK.
authors.forename: María Lourdes
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Aldana-Madrid
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
authors.forename: Gerardo Javier
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Almada-Balderrama
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alan Daniel
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Nuñez-Aguirre
authors.affiliation: Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Medical School, Berlin, Germany Roche Molecular Diagnostics, Pleasanton, California, USA.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Liesenfeld
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D044467:American Indian or Alaska Native; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D000072281:Lymphadenopathy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012589:Sciuridae; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
keywords: EPIDEMIOLOGY; PARASITOLOGY