Revista Espanola de Salud Publica
Volume 82, Issue 3, 2008, Pages 333-342

Prevalence and incidence in Albacete, Spain, of Toxoplasma gondii infection in women of childbearing age. Differences between immigrant and non-immigrant (2001-2007) [Prevalencia e incidencia de la infección por Toxoplasma gondii en mujeres en edad fértil en Albacete (2001-2007)] (Article)

Álvarez J.B. , Serrano M.M. , Parrado L.M. , Ortuño S.L. , Sánchez M.D.C.
  • a Laboratorio de Microbiología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Laboratorio de Microbiología, Hospital General Universitario de Albacete, C/ Hermanos Falcó, 37, 02006 Albacete, Spain
  • b Laboratorio de Microbiología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete
  • c Laboratorio de Microbiología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete
  • d Laboratorio de Microbiología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete
  • e Laboratorio de Microbiología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete

Abstract

Background: Strategies to prevent congenital toxoplasmosis must be adapted to the local epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection. The objective of this study was to know the prevalence and the incidence of T. gondii infection in women of childbearig age in Albacete. Methods: The source of information was the database of the Microbiology Laboratory of the Albacete General Hospital. To know the prevalence we reviewed the results of T. gondii IgG determinations from pregnant women living in the Albacete area who gave birth in 2006. To estimate the incidence we performed a longitudinal retrospective study of seronegative women with repeated T. gondii IgG determinations over at least one year. Results: Prevalence study: We studied 2,623 pregnant women, of whom 21% were seropositive. Seroprevalence in Spain-born women was 16% (95% CI = 14%-17%) and it increased with age from 9% in women under 25 to 22% in women over 34 years old. Fifty-one per cent (95% CI=46%-56%) of the immigrant women were seropositive. Incidence study: We studied 2,416 women. The median time at risk was 35 months. There were 5 confirmed and 3 possible seroconversions. The incidence was 0.7-1.1 seroconversions per 1,000 women-year. Conclusions: Prevalence of T. gondii infection among Spain-born women is the lowest one of those published so far. The incidence of infection among women of childbearing age was low.

Author Keywords

Toxoplasmosis, congenital Pregnant women Women's health Seroepidemiologic studies Toxoplasma gondii Incidence Prevalence

Index Keywords

Spain female comparative study Humans Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic Toxoplasmosis pregnancy Transients and Migrants prevalence Incidence Article pregnancy complication human adult migration statistics
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-48849101674&partnerID=40&md5=19614cffb58fa1807e397d4347be6afa
ISSN: 11355727
Cited by: 19
Original Language: Spanish