Risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in women of childbearing age
Avelino, M.Martins.; Campos, Décio.; Parada, J.Barbosa.de.; Castro, A.Maria.de.
Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases An Official Publication of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases 8(2): 164-174
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 1413-8670 PMID: 15361995 Document Number: 241950
A study was conducted to determine the risk factors involved in toxoplasmosis transmission and determine whether pregnancy is a risk factor for toxoplasmosis infection. The cross-sectional study was carried out on 2242 women of childbearing age. An indirect immunofluorescence reaction was used to identify immunity to Toxoplasma gondii. Previous gestations were also analysed as a possible risk factor. The results were analysed by chi 2 and OR tests, and by variance analysis. The sample was statistically balanced according to socioeconomic risk factors. Previously pregnant women were 1.74 times more frequently infected with toxoplasmosis, regardless of environmental conditions. Pregnant women living under unfavourable environmental conditions had approximately 2 times increased risk of being infected for each risk factor (contact with host animals, presence of vehicles of oocyst transmission). Previous pregnancy was the risk factor that had the strongest influence on acquiring toxoplasmosis (variance analysis and statistical balancing). The prevalence of this zoonosis is high in Goias, Brazil (65.8%). Inadequate environmental sanitation is not significantly correlated with toxoplasmosis infection, except when associated with previous pregnancy, showing that the fundamental cause for infection is not environmental. The finding that pregnancy makes women more vulnerable to this protozoan, makes it important to implement prophylactic control of at-risk pregnant women.