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We aimed to determine the association between the seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii and the ABO and Rh blood groups in 2,053 people. ABO and Rhesus blood groups and anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were determined using commercially available assays. Of the 2,053 people studied, 171 (8.3%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies. Sixty-five (38.0%) and 36 (21.1%) of these 171 individuals had high anti-T. gondii IgG antibody levels (=150 IU mL-1) and anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies, respectively. We found the following prevalences of T. gondii infection among the ABO groups: 8.5% in group A, 4.3% in group B, 4.7% in group AB, and 8.9% in group O (P 5 0.19). The prevalences of T. gondii infection among Rh groups were: 8.4% in the Rh-positive group and 7.1% in the Rh-negative group (P 5 0.58). Logistic regression analysis showed that the frequencies of ABO and Rh blood groups were similar (P > 0.05) among people with positive and negative serology for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies, with high (=150 IU mL-1) and lower (<150 IU mL-1) levels of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies, and with positive and negative serology for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. Results does not support an association between T. gondii infection and ABO and Rh blood groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sought to determine the association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection of the central nervous system and suicide in a sample of decedents in Mexico City. One hundred and forty-seven decedents (87 who committed suicide and 60 who did not commit suicide) were studied. Brain tissues (amygdala and prefrontal cortex) of decedents were examined for the detection of T. gondii using immunohistochemistry. Detection of T. gondii was positive in 7 (8.0%) of the 87 cases (6 found in prefrontal cortex and one in amygdala), and in one (1.7%) of the 60 controls (found in prefrontal cortex) (OR: 5.16; 95% CI: 0.61–43.10; P 5 0.14). Results suggest that T. gondii infection in brain is not associated with suicide. Further studies to confirm this finding are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We analyzed the seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in women of reproductive age in Chiapas, Mexico. Materials and Methods: One hundred seven women (mean age 25.3 years; range: 13–42 years) were enrolled in a public hospital. The presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to T. gondii in serum samples of participants was determined by an enzyme immunoassay. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between characteristics of women and seropositivity to T. gondii. Results: Of the 107 women surveyed, 49 (45.8%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies. T. gondii infection was positively associated with cats at home (odds ratio [OR] = 3.85; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21–12.20; p = 0.02), and negatively associated with eating out of home (OR = 0.29; 95% CI: 0.11–0.80; p = 0.01). Conclusions: This is the highest T. gondii exposure rate in women of reproductive age reported in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in pregnant women represents a risk for congenital disease. There is scarce information about the epidemiology of T. gondii infection in pregnant women in Mexico. Therefore, we sought to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection and associated socio-demographic, clinical and behavioural characteristics in a population of pregnant women of Durango City, Mexico. Methods Three hundred and forty three women seeking prenatal care in a public hospital of Durango City in Mexico were examined for T. gondii infection. All women were tested for anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG antibodies by using IMx Toxo IgM and IMx Toxo IgG 2.0 kits (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA), respectively. Socio-demographic, clinical and behavioural characteristics from each participant were also obtained. Results Twenty one out of the 343 (6.1%) women had IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies. None of the 343 women had IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies. Multivariate analysis using logic regression showed that T. gondii infection was associated with living in a house with soil floor (adjusted OR = 7.16; 95% CI: 1.39–36.84), residing outside of Durango State (adjusted OR = 4.25; 95% CI: 1.72–10.49), and turkey meat consumption (adjusted OR = 3.85; 95% CI: 1.30–11.44). Other characteristics as cat contact, gardening, and food preferences did not show any association with T. gondii infection. Conclusion The prevalence of T. gondii infection in pregnant women of Durango City is low as compared with those reported in other regions of Mexico and the majority of other countries. Poor housing conditions as soil floors, residing in other Mexican States, and turkey meat consumption might contribute to acquire T. gondii infection.

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Background: We analyzed the seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in women of reproductive age in Chiapas, Mexico. Materials and Methods: One hundred seven women (mean age 25.3 years; range: 13-42 years) were enrolled in a public hospital. The presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to T. gondii in serum samples of participants was determined by an enzyme immunoassay. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between characteristics of women and seropositivity to T. gondii . Results: Of the 107 women surveyed, 49 (45.8%) were positive for anti- T. gondii IgG antibodies. T. gondii infection was positively associated with cats at home (odds ratio [OR] = 3.85; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-12.20; p  = 0.02), and negatively associated with eating out of home (OR = 0.29; 95% CI: 0.11-0.80; p  = 0.01). Conclusions: This is the highest T. gondii exposure rate in women of reproductive age reported in Mexico.

Background: Breast cancer is a public health problem worldwide and is a priority for developing countries like ours, to establish preventive and early detection measures. In Mexico since 2006 breast cancer than cervical cancer as a cause of death in women aged 30-54 years and threatens all socioeconomic groups. The known risk factors for the occurrence of this neoplasm are early menarche, nulliparity, late age parity and late menopause and family history of breast cancer., Objective: To determine the risk factors associated with breast cancer in women in the State of Durango., Material and Methods: Epidemiological study of 50 cases and 100 con- trols aged between 35 and 69 years old. For the calculation of sample size Schlesselman tables were used. The data was collected and analyzed in SPSS V15. We used descriptive statistics and odds ratio was calculated., Results: Age had a mean of 50.60 years and a deviation ±9,599 for cases and 50.73 (SD ± 10.08) for controls. The hereditary familial history of breast cancer OR = 5.182 (Cl 1694-15855), higher age at first pregnancy at 30 years of age OR = 3.582 (95% CI .1.121-11.439)., Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that reproductive and hereditary familial history may influence the development of breast cancer, which is a multifactorial disease.

The epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection is known to depend on a number of behavioral factors, including contact with animals and eating habits. The epidemiology in specific populations (i.e., in indigenous ethnic groups) is not well studied. We therefore investigated the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies in 156 Tepehuanos, an indigenous ethnic group in Durango State in northern Mexico, using ELISAs. Of the 156 Tepehuanos (mean age 31.03±16.71 years), 35 (22.4%) had anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies. IgG levels of 14-99, 100-150, and >150 IU/mL were found in 15 (42.9%), 1 (2.8%), and 19 (54.3%) anti-Toxoplasma IgG-positive Tepehuanos, respectively. Also, 15 (9.6%) subjects had anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies. Male Tepehuanos aged 31-50 years showed a significantly higher frequency of exposure to T. gondii than female Tepehuanos of the same age. Seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies was significantly higher in Tepehuanos without education than those with 7-12 years of education. Tepehuanos suffering from frequent headaches had significantly higher seroprevalences of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies than those without this clinical feature. In addition, Tepehuanos suffering from hearing impairment had significantly higher seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies than those without this clinical feature. Logistic regression analysis did not show an association of T. gondii exposure with any behavioral characteristics, including contact with cats or eating habits. The seroprevalence of T. gondii exposure in Tepehuanos is comparable to that reported in other populations in North America; however, seroprevalence in the largely rural Tepehuanos is higher than that reported in a nearby urban center. Toxoplasma may be impacting the health of Tepehuanos. This is the first report of T. gondii infection in Tepehuanos, and the results should prove useful for the design of preventive measures.

Objectives: To determine the level of knowledge and practices about toxoplasmosis in physicians attending pregnant women in Durango, Mexico., Materials and Methods: One hundred physicians attending pregnant women in Durango,Mexico were surveyed. Of them, 67 were general practitioners, 17 family physicians, and 16 obstetricians. They were asked about (i) the parasite Toxoplasma gondii; (ii) general aspects about toxoplasmosis including clinical manifestations,diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiology; and (iii) their practices and experiences on toxoplasmosis., Results: From 66 to 89% (mean 78.5%) of physicians answered correctly about the parasite; 25 to 63% (mean 46.9%) answered correctly about clinical manifestations; and 36 to 45% (mean 40.5%) answered correctly about the serological diagnosis. Only 7% knew about the use of avidity test. Few physicians (23%) knew what medicaments are used against toxoplasmosis.From 12 to 86% (mean 40.3%) of participants answered correctly about transmission routes and only 7% got the right answer about susceptibility of infection. Fifty-nine percent of physicians never requested laboratory tests for detecting toxoplasmosis, and only 31% provide information for preventing infection to all their patients. Sixteen (16%) physicians had detected at least one case of Toxoplasma infection acquired during pregnancy., Conclusions: The physicians surveyed showed an incomplete knowledge about diagnosis and treatment of toxoplasmosis. Results are useful for optimal design of strategies in the medical education about toxoplasmosis.