Serological screening and toxoplasmosis exposure factors among pregnant women in South of Brazil

SUMMARYToxoplasma gondii causes severe fetal disease during acute infection in pregnant women, thus demanding early diagnosis for effective treatment and fetus preservation. Fetal tests are inefficient and risky, and diagnosis is based on maternal IgM serology, which had weak screening ability due to increased sensitivity, with alternative IgG avidity tests. Here, we performed ELISA and avidity assays using a recombinant T. gondii antigen, rROP2, in samples from 160 pregnant women screened from a large public hospital who were referred due to positive IgM assays. IgG serology and avidity assays were compared using whole T. gondii extract or rROP2. ELISA IgG detection with rROP2 showed good agreement with assays performed with T. gondii extract, but rROP2 IgG avidity assays were unrelated to whole extract antigen IgG avidity, regardless of the chaotrope used. These data show that avidity maturation is specific to individual antigen prevalence and immune response during infection. ELISA rROP2 IgG assays may be an alternative serological test for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, although our data do not support their use in avidity assays.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Serology using rROP2 antigen in the diagnostic of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women

Macre¹,

Pires²,

Meireles³

et al. 2009

“…SPALDING et al (2005) 55 assessed pregnant women in the region of Alto Uruguai, Rio Grande do Sul, and verified that contact with the soil was the most important factor analyzed in the study. NASH et al (2005) 45 , in a study with pregnant women in Kent in the United Kingdom, did not find an association between infection and gardening but observed lower prevalence in the group that used gloves when handling the soil.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Factors associated to infection by Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women attended in Basic Health Units in the city of Rolândia, Paraná, Brazil

Dias

Lopes-Mori²,

Mitsuka‐Breganó³

et al. 2011

SUMMARYThe aim of the present work was to determine the prevalence of IgG and IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and the factors associated to the infection in pregnant women attended in Basic Health Units in Rolândia, Paraná, Brazil. The sample was divided in two groups: group I (320 pregnant women who were analyzed from July 2007 to February 2008) and group II (287 pregnant women who were analyzed from March to October 2008). In group I, it was found 53.1% of pregnant women with IgG reactive and IgM nonreactive, 1.9% with IgG and IgM reactive, 0.3% with IgG non-reactive and IgM reactive and 44.7% with IgG and IgM non-reactive. In group II, it was found 55.1% with IgG reactive and IgM non-reactive and 44.9% with IgG and IgM non-reactive. The variables associated to the presence of IgG antibodies were: residence in rural areas, pregnant women between 35-40 years old, low educational level, low family income, more than one pregnancy, drinking water which does not originate from the public water supply system and the habit of handling soil or sand. Guidance on primary prevention measures and the quarterly serological monitoring of the pregnant women in the risk group are important measures to prevent congenital toxoplasmosis.

“…Recent seroepidemiological surveys performed in different segments of the Brazilian population revealed infection rates ranging from 32.4 to 74.5%, depending on the age, with highest values occurring in adults 3,16,17,18 . In other countries high rates of human infection with T. gondii can also be found 1,6,8,11,15 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nephrotic syndrome associated with toxoplasmosis: report of seven cases

Toporovski

Romano

Hartmann

et al. 2012

SUMMARYThe concomitance of nephrotic syndrome and acute infection by Toxoplasma gondii is a rare occurrence in humans. In this paper seven cases of children, ranging from 11 months to 7 year-old, with concomitant nephrotic syndrome and asymptomatic acute T. gondii infection are reported. In one of those patients only the administration of anti-Toxoplasma therapy was enough to control the clinical and laboratory manifestations of the disease. In the other patients it was necessary to introduce corticosteroids or other immunosuppressant drugs. Three patients had complete clinical and laboratory improvement and the remaining showed only a partial response.