Toxocara spp. seroprevalence in pregnant women in Brasília, Brazil.
The impact of gestational toxocariasis is an understudied topic on female reproductive health. We estimated anti-Toxocara IgG prevalence among pregnant women in Brasília, Brazil, and investigated the association of the infection with history of abortion and contact with pets.
Infection was diagnosed using ELISA with excretory/secretory antigens. Participant information was obtained via questionnaires.
Of 311 pregnant women, 23 were anti-Toxocara IgG positive. Twenty-two percent of anti-Toxocara IgG-positive participants and 26% had previously miscarried. Previous contact with pets was associated with higher toxocariasis prevalence.
A direct relationship between toxocariasis and contact with pets was observed, but there was no relationship with the miscarriage prevalence.
Hospital Universitário de Brasília, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
Lívia Custódio
LC
Pereira
Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Guita Rubinsky
GR
Elefant
Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Biociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
Yanna Medeiros
YM
Nóbrega
Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Biociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
Tamires
T
Vital
Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Biociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
Nadjar
N
Nitz
Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Biociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
Lenora
L
Gandolfi
Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Biociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
Riccardo
R
Pratesi
Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Biociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
Mariana
M
Hecht
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002415:Cats; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014119:Toxocara / Q000276:immunology*; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G