Antitoxoplasma antibodies in mothers in labour and their newborn children

Abstract

A serological investigation on antitoxoplasma antibodies of women in labour and their newborn babies was carried out on a population sample representative of a defined geographical area. The relevant findings revealed: a) high titer antibodies in 21.2% of parturient-newborn pairs; b) slight or non-apparent toxoplasma infection, limited to 2.4% of newborns with high titer antibodies; c) quick drop of antibody titer in two thirds of seropositive women in labour observed 90 days from childbirth; d) a steady proportion of seronegative pregnant women - 40% ca. - detected in all age groups from 20 and 40 years and over. These findings are discussed, and assumptions on their meaning are put forward.