[Serologic profile of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women attended at a teaching-hospital in Recife]

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the serologic profile of toxoplasmosis and the main factors associated with susceptibility (patients without IgM and IgG antibodies) in pregnant women attended at a teaching-hospital in Recife, Brasil.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out, enrolling 503 pregnant women submitted to serology for toxoplasmosis at IMIP (Recife) from October 2004 to April 2005. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies were studied by IFA. A short questionnaire was administered to patients to provide identification, demographic and obstetrical characteristics, past history of morbidity, habits and dwelling conditions. The chi-square and Fisher-exact tests were used at a 5% level of significance.

Results: Immunity for toxoplasmosis was present in 74.7%, susceptibility in 22.5% and "possible" active infection in 2.8% of patients. No significant associations were observed between toxoplasmosis susceptibility and age, location, conditions of morbidity, habits, dwelling conditions and sewage system, living with animals, pregnancy and gestational age. A significant association between toxoplasmosis susceptibility and schooling was found, with a higher frequency of susceptibility among women with eight or more years of schooling.

Conclusion: Susceptibility for toxoplasmosis was relatively low in these prenatal patients and schooling was the only identifiable predictive factor.