Presence of domesticated cats and visual impairment associated to Toxoplasma gondii serum positive children at an elementary school in Jataizinho, state of Paraná, Brazil.

Toxoplasmosis possess worldwide geographic distribution and high serological prevalence in human beings and animals. Acquired way is, in the majority of the times, light or asymptomatic however, in approximately 15% of the cases can be developed the ocular form. The aim of this study is to research the occurrence of IgG anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in children at an elementary school in Jataizinho (PR) and relate some factors with the epidemiology of the toxoplasmosis. A total of 276 samples of blood by using indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) where 128 (46.4%) were detected positives. The analysis of the variables indicated that the presence of domestic cats in the household was an important factor associated to the infection by T. gondii (OR= 3.45; 1.61- 7.45) as well as to the children who described any kind of visual impairment (OR= 3.19; 1.11 - 9.35).

Presence of domesticated cats and visual impairment associated to Toxoplasma gondii serum positive children at an elementary school in Jataizinho, state of Paraná, Brazil / Presença de gatos domésticos e alterações visuais associados a amostras positivas para Toxoplasma gondii em escolares de Jataizinho, Paraná, Brasil

Toxoplasmosis possess worldwide geographic distribution and high serological prevalence in human beings and animals. Acquired way is, in the majority of the times, light or asymptomatic however, in approximately 15 percent of the cases can be developed the ocular form. The aim of this study is to research the occurrence of IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in children at an elementary school in Jataizinho (PR) and relate some factors with the epidemiology of the toxoplasmosis. A total of 276 samples of blood by using indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) where 128 (46.4 percent) were detected positives. The analysis of the variables indicated that the presence of domestic cats in the household was an important factor associated to the infection by T. gondii (OR= 3.45; 1.617.45) as well as to the children who described any kind of visual impairment (OR= 3.19; 1.11 - 9.35).

A toxoplasmose possui ampla distribuição geográfica e elevada prevalência sorológica entre seres humanos e animais. A forma adquirida é, na maioria dos casos, leve ou assintomática, entretanto, em aproximadamente 15 por cento dos casos pode-se desenvolver a forma ocular. O objetivo deste trabalho foi relacionar algumas variáveis à ocorrência de anticorpos IgG anti- Toxoplasma gondii em escolares do ensino fundamental de Jataizinho (PR). Foram analisadas amostras de sangue de 276 crianças testadas pela reação de imunofluorescência indireta (IFI) onde 128 (46,4 por cento) foram positivas. A análise das variáveis revelou que a presença de gato doméstico foi um importante fator associado à infecção pelo T. gondii (OR= 3.45; 1.61- 7.45) assim como crianças que relataram algum tipo de alteração visual (OR= 3.19; 1.11 - 9.35).