Abstract
Introduction. Recent studies in Mexico have shown that from 20/10,000 to 58/10,000 newborns with Toxoplasma infection could be undetected. The aim of this study was to determine the weighed prevalence of T. gondii infection and describe the epidemiological transition of infection in newborns. Methods. Research literature reporting Toxoplasma infection prevalence in Mexican newborns and children were searched in five international databases. Weighted prevalence was calculated by inverse variance-weighted method in asymptomatic and symptomatic study groups, and the epidemiological transition was estimated by a lineal regression analysis. Results. The weighed prevalence in 4833 asymptomatic newborns was 0.616%, CI95% (0.396%–0.835%) (P < 0.001), whereas, among 895 symptomatic newborns, the weighed prevalence was 3.02%, CI 95% (1.91%–4.1%) (P < 0.001). A downward trend of 0.25%/year represented an accumulated decrease of −13,75% in the prevalence in the symptomatic newborns throughout 55 years, whereas, in the asymptomatic children, the prevalence was similar over the course of the years. Conclusion. The high-weighted prevalence of congenital Toxoplasma infection in newborns justifies that Toxoplasma gondii testing be included in the screening programs for women during pregnancy and newborns in Mexico. A rapid diagnosis and treatment strategy could aid in limiting a potential damage to the newborns.
Highlights
Recent studies in Mexico have shown that from 20/10,000 to 58/10,000 newborns with Toxoplasma infection could be undetected
Seven studies were performed in healthy newborns and three studies in infants with congenital infection
In two postmortem studies: one conducted among 4,197 autopsies of apparently healthy children at the Children’s Hospital at Mexico City in 1976 and another performed among 4,000 autopsies in the Pediatric Hospital, the positivity for Toxoplasma in tissues was 0.11% and 0.6%, respectively [14, 15]
Summary
Recent studies in Mexico have shown that from 20/10,000 to 58/10,000 newborns with Toxoplasma infection could be undetected. Damage to the visual and central nervous system can be severe if the fetus is infected during the first trimester [2]; during the second and third trimesters, disorders are less severe and newborns can present an asymptomatic infection and later on develop chorioretinitis, mental retardation, and sensory damage [3]. It can occur at final term, during placental detachment, or while in delivery. NE-II strain is associated with premature birth and infants infected with severe manifestations of disease than infants infected by strain type II parasites [4]
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