Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Pregnant Women in Rural Durango, Mexico

Abstract

The epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women in rural Mexico is largely unknown. The seroepidemiology of T. gondii infection in 439 pregnant women from 9 communities in rural Durango State, Mexico was investigated. Using commercial enzyme-linked immunoassays, sera were tested for T. gondii IgG, IgM, and avidity antibodies. Prevalences of T. gondii IgG antibodies in the communities varied from 0% to 20%. Overall, 36 (8.2%) of the 439 women had IgG T. gondii antibodies. Ten (2.3%) women had also T. gondii IgM antibodies; IgG avidity was high in all IgM-positive women, suggesting chronic infection. None of the women, however, had delivered a known T. gondii-infected child. The seroprevalence was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in women from low socio-economic conditions (14%) than in those with higher socio-economic status (6.6%). Multivariate analysis showed that T. gondii infection was associated with soil floors at home (adjusted OR = 2.89; 95% CI: 1.12-7.49). This is the first epidemiological study of T. gondii infection in pregnant women in rural Mexico.

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection and Related Risk Factors Among Blood Donors in Northwest Iran

“…Our results revealed that the males were more infected than the females, but the difference was not significantly different (P > 0.05). Our study results, in agreement to study of Alvarado-Esquivel et al in Mexico, did not show an association between gender and infection (18). However, it was in contrast with the findings of Elhence et al in India (12).…”

“…In addition, similar T. gonii seroprevalence studies on blood donors have been conducted in other countries such as Taiwan, India, and Mexico. The reported rates vary from 7.4% to 51.8% for IgG and 0.28% to 5% for IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies (12,(16)(17)(18). These differences may be due to sample size, mean age of the participants, geography, and sensitivity of detection methods.…”

Prevalence of Congenital Toxoplasmosis in Pregnant Women with Complicated Pregnancy Outcomes in Assiut Governorate, Egypt

“…It was found that rural communities in developing countries have a considerable epidemiological importance as they have high rate of infection, lack of health care services and deficiency of diagnostic facilities for infectious diseases (Alvarado-Esquivel et al, 2009). So, future studies will be strongly warranted in rural areas.…”

Prevalência de toxoplasmose em gestantes atendidas em dois centros de referência em uma cidade do Nordeste, Brasil

“…No México, a prevalência é considerada baixa, variando entre 6,1 e 8,2% em gestantes 29 . A prevalência de indivíduos sororeagentes (IgG e ou IgM reagentes) para T. gondii varia muito entre as diversas regiões do mundo, inclusive em regiões dentro do próprio país 5 , razão pela qual não é plausível fazer extrapolações.…”