Toxoplasmosis in pregnant women from Araraquara/SP: Analysis of Toxoplasma-specific IgG avidity test utilization in the prenatal care routine <b>[Abstract in English]</b>

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the utilization of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) IgG avidity test in the laboratory routine of prenatal care in pregnant women from Araraquara/SP and to analyse its relationship with the antiparasitic treatment and the occurrence of congenital toxoplasmosis. Methods: From January to November 2005, at the Laboratório de Imunologia Clínica e Biologia Molecular do Centro de Referência Diagnóstica do Núcleo de Atendimento à Comunidade da Universidade Auxiliar Integrada à Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Campus de Araraquara, UNESP, Araraquara/SP, the results of the serological tests for toxoplasmosis in the prenatal care routine were analyzed in two groups of patients. One consisting of pregnant women with negative T. gondiispecific IgM (n=200) and the other consisting of pregnant women with positive T. gondii-specific IgM (n=33). The T. gondii-specific IgG avidity test was performed in the group with positive T. gondii-specific IgM. Results: Most pregnant women (76.9%) who presented intermediate avidity test results received antiparasitic treatment. Of the 16 pregnant women who presented high avidity results, nine (56,25%) received antiparasitic treatment. Conclusions: Even in the presence of a high specific- T. gondii IgG avidity test in the first trimester of gestation, the antiparasitic treatment was instituted, demonstrating that the avidity test was not adequately utilized in the clinical practice. KEY WORDS: TOXOPLASMOSIS, CONGENITAL/PREVENTION & CONTROL; TOXOPLASMA/IMMUNOLOGY; ANTIBODY AFFINITY; SEROLOGIC TESTS; IMUNOGLOBULIN G/ANALYSIS; PRENATAL CARE; CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDIES.