Pregnancy as a risk factor for acute toxoplasmosis seroconversion

Objective: To test the hypothesis that pregnancy is a risk factor for toxoplasmosis seroconversion. Materials and methods: A prospective observational study of women at child-bearing age vulnerable to Toxoplasma gondii. Serological reactions with indirect immunofluorescent antibody and immunoenzyme tests were used. The risk estimate used limits of reliability at 95%, and the results were validated by χ2 and RR tests. Results: Acute infection among pregnant women was 8.6% (45/522), and pregnancy was confirmed to be a risk factor for seroconversion (<F>P=0.001</F>). Living in close contact with host animals and vehicles of oocyst transmission proved to be a statistical risk for pregnant women to seroconvert, which was aggravated in adolescents. Conclusion: Gestation, potentiating susceptibility to this infection, points to the need of primary and secondary prevention for all pregnant women at risk. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]