Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in pregnant women and their newborn infants in the region of Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Author(s)

Brandao de Mattos, Cinara de Cassia ^[1] ; Junqueira Franco Spegiorin, Ligia Cosentino ^[1] ; Meira, Cristina da Silva ^[1] ; Silva, Thais da Costa ^[1] ; da Costa Ferreira, Ana Iara ^[1] ; Nakashima, Fabiana ^[1] ; Pereira-Chioccola, Vera Lucia ^[1] ; de Mattos, Luiz Carlos ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Fac Med Sao Jose Rio Preto Famerp, Immunogenet Lab, Dept Mol Biol, BR-15090000 Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: São Paulo Medical Journal; v. 129, n. 4, p. 261-266, JUL 7 2011.
• Web of Science Citations: 11

Abstract

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Toxoplasmosis transmission during pregnancy can cause severe sequelae in fetuses and newborns. Maternal antibodies may be indicators of risk or immunity. The aim here was to evaluate seropositivity for anti-Toxoplasma gondii (anti-T. gondii) immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and IgG avidity in pregnant women and their newborn infants. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study in a high-risk pregnancy outpatient clinic. METHODS: Serum samples from pregnant women (n = 87) and their respective newborns (n = 87) were evaluated for anti-T. gondii antibodies using indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) (IgM and IgG), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (IgG) and an avidity test. RESULTS: Anti-T. gondii antibodies were identified in 64.4% of the serum samples from the mothers and their infants (56/87). Except for two maternal serum samples (2.3%), all others were negative for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies, using IIF. The results showed that 92.9% of the pregnant women had high IgG avidity indexes (> 30%) and four samples had avidity indexes between 16 and 30%. Two women in the third trimester of pregnancy were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies; their babies had avidity indexes between 16 and 30%. The avidity indexes of serum from the other 83 newborns were similar to the results from their mothers. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that 2% of the pregnant women were at risk of T. gondii transmission during the gestational period. These data seem to reflect the real situation of gestational toxoplasmosis in the northwestern region of the state of Sao Paulo. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/09311-0 - Laboratorial diagnosis of toxoplasmosis focusing on congenital and cerebral toxoplasmosis
• Grantee: Vera Lúcia Pereira Chioccola
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 09/09168-6 - Toxoplasma gondii excreted-secreted antigens (ESA): Analysis of infected host immune response
• Grantee: Cristina da Silva Meira Strejevitch
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate