Abstract
The city of Erechim, Brazil, has a 17% prevalence of ocular toxoplasmosis, and type 1 Toxoplasma gondii predominates. To examine risk factors for acute T. gondii infection in this area, we administered a questionnaire to recently infected persons (n = 131) and seronegative controls (n = 110). Eating undercooked meat; having a garden; working in the garden or yard more than once per week; eating rare meat; eating cured, dried, or smoked meat; eating frozen lamb; and being male increased risk for T. gondii infection in univariate analysis. Risk factors independently associated with acute T. gondii infection in multivariate analysis were working in the garden (odds ratio [OR] 2.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27-4.33) and eating frozen lamb (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.15-3.67). Among women (n = 86), having had children markedly increased the risk for T. gondii infection (OR 14.94, 95% CI 3.68-60.73).
Highlights
The city of Erechim, Brazil, has a 17% prevalence of ocular toxoplasmosis, and type 1 Toxoplasma gondii predominates
In univariate analysis among the group as a whole, patients were significantly more likely than controls to eat rare meat; eat cured, dried, or smoked meat given by a friend or relative; have a garden; work in the yard or garden; eat frozen lamb; and be male
Among children
Summary
The city of Erechim, Brazil, has a 17% prevalence of ocular toxoplasmosis, and type 1 Toxoplasma gondii predominates. To examine risk factors for acute T. gondii infection in this area, we administered a questionnaire to recently infected persons (n = 131) and seronegative controls (n = 110). Ocular toxoplasmosis has been a problem in southern Brazil for many years, no controlled studies have determined the sources of infection. In Erechim, a city in southern Brazil, a representative population-based household survey showed that 17.7% of >1,000 persons examined had ocular toxoplasmosis [4]. This high rate is believed to be due to acute infection after birth because the rate of infection in young children in this area is low [4,5,6].
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