Seroepidemiological survey of toxoplasmosis and evaluation of the conditions for its transmission in undergraduates from Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul State <b>[Abstract in English]<\b>

Abstract

AIMS: To evaluate, by means of a seroepidemiological survey, the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in undergraduate students of Nursing and Biological Sciences from the Anhanguera – UNIDERP University, in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul State. METHODS: Serum samples were tested with solid phase ELISA for determination of specific IgM and IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii. The data were correlated to sociodemographic factors and habits that might have influenced the transmission of infection. RESULTS: Among the 100 students studied, 39% (39/100) were IgG reagent for toxoplasmosis (confidence interval [CI) 95%: 29.4%-48.6%) and none were IgM reagent. A statistically significant association between the presence of cats at home and positivity for toxoplasmosis was found. Among serum reagent academics, 72.97% (95% CI: 58.7%-87.3%) reported owning or having owned cats in the home, while among the seronegative for toxoplasmosis, 50% (CI 95%: 36.9%-63.1%) reported owning or having owned cats. With respect to alimentary risk factors (eating of raw/undercooked meat, raw vegetables, raw milk and raw egg), no association was found with Toxoplasma gondii infection. The frequency of serum reactive individuals was significantly higher in the age group above 25 years (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii specific antibodies was relatively low when compared to the average prevalence found in different population samples from Brazil. Presence of cats at home was the risk factor identified as likely responsible for the infection. The prevalence of seropositivity for toxoplasmosis was higher in the age group above 25 years.