Antenatal factors related to congenital toxoplasmosis in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasmosis is one of the main preventable congenital infections in Brazil. This manuscript aims to describe antenatal factors possibly associated with congenital toxoplasmosis (CT).

Methods: This is a case-control study, with data collected from medical records, from infants admitted under one year of age at the Infectious Diseases Clinic of Instituto de Puericultura e Pediatria Martagão Gesteira, reference center from Rio de Janeiro, exposed to toxoplasmosis during their antenatal period. Patients diagnosed with CT were classified as cases and those exposed without infection as controls.

Results: A total of 289 patients were followed up in 10 years. CT was confirmed in 43 (14.9%) of which six (14%) were asymptomatic, five (12%) had the classic triad (retinochoroiditis, hydrocephalus and intracranial calcifications), 27/42 (64.3%) had reactive IgM. Even after adjusted for prematurity, cases were born with lower weight (OR 0.49 - IC95% 0.33-0.73). There was a 13% increase in chance of CT per gestational week of the maternal diagnosis. Maternal fever, consumption of poorly washed vegetables during pregnancy, and diagnosis in the third trimester were associated with CT (OR: 6.43, 6.55, and 2.16, respectively).

Conclusion: Fever during pregnancy, consumption of poorly washed vegetables and diagnosis in the third trimester were associated with CT. Infants with diagnosis of CT were born with lower weight than the controls.

Keywords: Toxoplasmosis; congenital toxoplasmosis; maternal-fetal infections; prenatal toxoplasmosis; toxoplasma gondii infection.