High prevalence of congenital toxoplasmosis in Brazil estimated in a 3-year prospective neonatal screening study

Abstract

The 3-year prospective study using sensitive detection methods, reliable confirmation, and feedback from clinicians showed that CT has an extraordinarily high prevalence in Brazil, in fact the highest ever reported in the world. Although the long-term efficacy of treatment of CT has not been well documented, in view of the availability of reliable diagnostics, confirmation and monitoring, functional logistics, and networking for screening, the insidious nature of the sequelae and the very high prevalence of the disease, neonatal screening for CT should be considered an alternative to no screening at all.

Seroepidemiology of toxoplasmosis in women of childbearing age from a marginal community of Maracaibo, Venezuela

“…The world incidence of T. gondii primary infection acquired during pregnancy varies widely with a range between 1/100 to 1/3000 pregnancies 20,26,27 . In Venezuela, previous studies are not available about the toxoplasmosis incidence; this study estimated the theoretical incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis by the increment of anti-T. gondii antibodies in the studied population.…”

Prevalence of acute toxoplasmosis infection among 41,112 pregnant women and the mother-to-child transmission rate in a public hospital in South Brazil

“…In the Southern region, the prevalence of congenital infection based on cord blood samples reached 0.8/1,000 births (95% CI: 0.02-4.45) (Mozzatto & Procianoy 2003). Other studies using blood samples adsorbed onto filter paper found prevalences from 0.3/1,000 (Neto et al 2000) to 0.6/1,000 newborns (Lago et al 2007). In Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, another cross-sectional study also using blood samples adsorbed onto filter paper (Carvalheiro et al 2005) found a prevalence of 0.3/1,000 births.…”

Options for clinical trials of pre and post-natal treatments for congenital toxoplasmosis

“…Also of great priority, is ensuring the most adequate pre-clinical and early clinical development of new drugs to inform the design of a future randomised trial. This is even more important as the epidemic is of alarming proportions in certain parts of the world, like South America (Neto et al 2000, Bahia-Oliveira et al 2003, and populations urgently need effective treatment. Meanwhile, in the next decade, currently available pre and post-natal treatment strategies should be formally evaluated to estimate their net benefit where possible.…”