Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Women of Reproductive Age and Associated Risk Factors in Chiapas, Mexico.

ABSTRACT

Background: We analyzed the seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in women of reproductive age in Chiapas, Mexico. Materials and Methods: One hundred seven women (mean age 25.3 years; range 13-42 years) were enrolled in a public hospital. The presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to T. gondii in serum samples of participants was determined by an enzyme immunoassay. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between characteristics of women and seropositivity to T. gondii. Results: Of the 107 women surveyed, 49 (45.8%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies. T. gondii infection was positively associated with cats at home (odds ratio [OR] = 3.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21-12.20; p = 0.02), and negatively associated with eating out of home (OR = 0.29; 95% CI 0.11-0.80; p = 0.01). Conclusions: This is the highest T. gondii exposure rate in women of reproductive age reported in Mexico.