1 research outputs found
a cross-sectional study
Objectives We determined the seroprevalence and correlates of Toxoplasma
gondii infection in pregnant women in Aguascalientes City, Mexico. Design A
cross-sectional survey. Setting Pregnant women were enrolled in the central
Mexican city of Aguascalientes. Participants We studied 338 pregnant women who
attended prenatal care in 3 public health centres. Primary and secondary
outcome measures Women were examined for IgG/IgM antibodies to T. gondii by
using commercially available enzyme immunoassays, and an avidity test.
Multiple analyses were used to determine the association of T. gondii
seropositivity with the characteristics of the pregnant women. Results Of the
338 pregnant women studied, 21 (6.2%) had IgG antibodies to T. gondii, and 1
(4.8%) of them was also positive for IgM antibodies to T. gondii. Avidity of
IgG antibodies to T. gondii was high in the IgM-positive sample. Logistic
regression analysis of sociodemographic, behavioural and housing variables
showed that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with white ethnicity
(OR=149.4; 95% CI 10.8 to 2054.1; p<0.01), not washing hands before eating
(OR=6.41; 95% CI 1.73 to 23.6; p=0.005) and use of latrine (OR=37.6; 95% CI
4.63 to 306.31; p=0.001). Conclusions Results demonstrate that pregnant women
in Aguascalientes City have a low seroprevalence of T. gondii infection.
However, this low prevalence indicates that most pregnant women are at risk
for a primary infection. Factors associated with T. gondii exposure found in
this study, including food hygiene, may be useful to determine preventive
measures against T. gondii infection and its sequelae