Screening for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in 2,513 consecutive parturient women and evaluation of newborn infants at risk for congenital toxoplasmosis.

Aims: To determine the prevalence of seropositivity for toxoplasmosis in pregnant women, to assess the outcome and the prevalence of congenital toxoplasmosis, and to evaluate the usefulness of routine screening for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in parturient women. Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study of consecutive mothers and their liveborn infants within the first 12 months of the implementation in a maternity ward of a routine consisting in screening for toxoplasmosis at delivery. Results: Serologic status for toxoplasmosis were assessed in 2,477 (98.5%) of 2,513 mothers of liveborn infants throughout the study period. Of the 2,477 mothers, 810 (32.7%; 95%CI 30.9-34.6%) were susceptible and 1,667 (67.3%; 95%CI 65.4-69.1%) were immune. Three newborn infants with congenital toxoplasmosis were identified because of the maternal serum tests at delivery, and all of them had active ocular lesions caused by toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. The prevalence of congenital toxoplasmosis was 12/10,000 (CI 95%: 6/10,000-21/10,000). Conclusions: Maternal serologic screening at delivery was useful for the early detection of cases of congenital toxoplasmosis that would have otherwise gone undetected in the neonatal period, and allowed for earlier treatment of newborns with retinochoroiditis. The high prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in pregnant women and of congenital toxoplasmosis justify a prenatal screening program in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]