Resumo

DIAZ-SUAREZ, Odelis; PARRA, Ana María  e  ARAUJO-FERNANDEZ, Merle. Seroepidemiology of toxoplasmosis in a marginal community of Maracaibo, Venezuela.. Invest. clín [online]. 2001, vol.42, n.2, pp.107-122. ISSN 0535-5133.

The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in a marginal community of the Municipality of Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela and if there was a relationship between risk factors and infection. An epidemiological survey of personal data, living sanitary conditions and contact with cats was performed. A collection of 254 blood samples from male and female individuals, with ages ranging from 8 months to 76 years, was studied. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii reaction was determined by indirect hemaglutination using a commercial kit. A positive reaction at a dilution ³1:64 was considered positive. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-squared test. The prevalence of infection was found to be 36.6%. It was observed that 21.5 % of the seropositive presented titers not considered significant (£1:64), 51.6 % had intermediate titers (1:128 to 1:512), 24.8 % high titers (1:1024 to 1:4096) and 2.1 % very high titers (³1:8192). The highest percentage of positivity (50%) was observed in the group ³46 years of age. No statistically significant association was observed between prevalence and risk factors (living together with cats and poor sanitary conditions of living) or infection when the chi-square test was used. Toxoplasma gondii infection was often found in the community of Puerto Caballo and probably cats and poor living conditions have a role in the transmission of infection.

Palavras-chave : Toxoplasmosis; prevalence; seroepidemiology; risk factors..