Toxoplasma gondii in women with recent abortion from Southern Mexico

Abstract

ObjectiveTo estimate the presence, parasite burden, percentage of avidity and risk factors to seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in women with recent abortion attended at the two main hospitals from Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. MethodsSeroprevalence and IgG avidity were estimated from 161 blood samples from aborting women and risk factors associated with serological status were determined. Only 130 from 161 samples were analyzed by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and a nested-PCR (nPCR) to detect T. gondii-DNA. ResultsSeroprevalence of Toxoplasma IgM and IgG was 3.72% (6/161) and 59.00% (95/161), respectively; 98.94% (94/95) of the women showed high-avidity index and only 1.05% (1/95) demonstrated low-avidity. For qPCR, 3.84% (5/130) of the samples were detected with T. gondii-DNA and all positive samples showed a low parasite load (< 1 parasite/mL). For nPCR, 6.92% (9/130) of positivity was found. Logistic regression analysis showed a positive association between IgG-seropositivity and potable-drinking-water intake in households (P < 0.020, odds ratio = 11.62, 95% confidence interval = 0.011–0.683). ConclusionsIn this study, the detection of T. gondii-DNA in IgG-positive women suggests in some cases active parasitemia, even when they demonstrated high-avidity index. Reinfection cases could be presented due to the high circulation of the parasite in the study region. T. gondii could play an important role as cause of abortion and municipal potable-water could be an important risk factor of infection.