In some regions, about 3060% of the population is positive for toxoplasmosis in serological tests [14]

In some regions, about 3060% of the population is positive for toxoplasmosis in serological tests [14]. TheT.gondiilife cycle alternates between intermediate hosts (mammals and birds), where the asexual stage occurs, and definitive hosts (felines), harboring the sexual stage. the women with serological profile IgM+/IgG+ (22.33.9 years) was different from women with the profile IgM-/IgG+ (27.96.7 years, p = 0.0011) and IgM-/IgG- (27.96.4 years, p = 0.0012). There was no statistically significant difference between the different serological profiles in FR183998 free base relation to prematurity (p = 0.6742) and low birth weight (p = 0.7186). The results showed that prematurity and low birth weight did not correlate with anti-Toxoplasma gondiimaternal serum profiles. == Introduction == Toxoplasma gondiiis an obligate intracellular parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases in the world. In all countries there is a high number of humans and animals infected withT.gondii. In some regions, about 3060% of the population is usually Rabbit Polyclonal to RAB41 positive for toxoplasmosis in serological assessments [14]. TheT.gondiilife cycle alternates between intermediate hosts (mammals and birds), where the asexual stage occurs, and definitive hosts (felines), harboring the sexual stage. The infection in the intermediate host occurs by eating natural or undercooked meat made up of cysts, and water or food contaminated with oocysts secreted in the feces of FR183998 free base infected cats [2]. In the acute phase, rapid replication of tachyzoites predominates and in approximately 6090 days the infection becomes chronic. As the immune response is effective in controlling the FR183998 free base contamination, tachyzoites differentiate into bradyzoites, which divide more slowly and form cysts in various cells, particularly in the brain, heart and muscles. About 80% of chronically infected individuals are asymptomatic although in some cases eye injuries occur [2,511]. When the primary infection occurs during pregnancy, the parasites can infect the fetus through the placenta, causing birth defects and ocular complications. The consequences of maternal and fetal contamination depend on the degree of exposure of the fetus to parasites, the virulence of the strain and the gestational period in which there was contamination, and the classic indicators of congenital toxoplasmosis are: hydrocephalus; chorioretinitis; cranial calcifications and mental retardation [1,1223]. Contemporary research onT.gondiiinfection in humans has been directed to risk groups such as patients with immunodeficiency, transplant patients, patients with vision injuries and even normal individuals. In addition to these, pregnant women and newborns are targeted for medical attention given the risks of congenital transmission and the sequelae [14,2430]. The prevalence ofT.gondiiinfection was investigated in different Brazilian says in recent decades and the results revealed great variability in its contents, including previous studies by our group FR183998 free base [2,3134]. In addition to these studies, we were able to establish that this congenital transmission rate in the region reaches 2.3% [32]. The interest in conducting proper screening forT.gondiiinfection in risk groups has grown considerably in recent years, as well as the interest in studies to establish some relation to the conditions presented by newborns, such as prematurity and disease severity [5,18,3542]. Toxoplasmosis thus constitutes a serious public health problem, especially in pregnant FR183998 free base women who were not infected byT.gondii, and may cause neurologic damage the baby, being a disease of epidemiological significance to pregnant women and women of childbearing age and recently included in the list of by the CDC of neglected diseases [43,44]. The aim of this study was to correlate prematurity and low birth weight with the serological profile of pregnant women for toxoplasmosis. == Materials and Methods == == Ethical aspects of the study == This study was approved by the Ethics Committee in Research of the Faculty of Medicine of So Jos do Rio PretoFAMERP (protocol 168/2007). The need for a written consent of patients was waivered as all the data were retrospectively collected from the patients’ hospital records and was anonymized. == Data analysis == Data records were consulted for 310 pregnant women who met at the Clinic of High Risk Pregnancy and Fetal Medicine from the Hospital de Base de So Jos do Rio Preto, Brazil from 2005 to 2007. Complete data were found for 213 women regarding serological screening for toxoplasmosis during the prenatal period; weight data, gestational age and maternal age were collected from their Statement of Live Birth. == Definition of prematurity and birth weight == Preterm birth was defined as gestational age less than 37 weeks and low birth weight as less than or equal to 2499 grams according to the criteria of the World Health Business [45]. == Definition of serological.