The Seropositivity of Toxocara spp. Antibodies in Pregnant Women Attented at the University Hospital in Southern Brazil and the Factors Associated with Infection

Abstract

BackgroundHuman toxocariasis is a parasitic zoonosis with a worldwide distribution but is underdiagnosed with an underestimated impact on human health. The ingestion of embryonated eggs of Toxocara spp. present on the hands or in contaminated food or water is the main mode of infection. The only record of Toxocara congenital infection in humans occurred in a premature infant. Helminth infections during pregnancy may be associated with reproductive disorders. Studies investigating the occurrence of toxocariasis in pregnancy are scarce, as is research on the possible implications of these parasites in reproductive health. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxocara spp. in pregnant women and to identify risk factors associated with its infection.Methodology/Principal FindingsThe cross-sectional study of the seropositivity of specific antibodies for Toxocara spp. was performed on 280 pregnant women. Serum samples were examined with enzyme-linked immunoassay. Epidemiological data were obtained through a questionnaire containing information about obstetric history, general life style choices, and the social and economic status of the women. The prevalence of Toxocara spp. IgG in pregnant women was 6.4%. Some of the risk factors associated with the infection were owning dogs (p = 0.003), living in the city centre (p = 0.028), living at the city beach (p = 0.003), and having a family income at or below minimum wage (p < 0.001). There was no association between reproductive disorders and Toxocara seropositivity.Conclusions/SignificanceThe seroprevalence of 6.4% for Toxocara spp. in pregnant women shows that there was exposure to the parasite. The study demonstrates the need for attention for the completion of clinical diagnosis parameters, as well as the expansion of highly specific serological studies in different regions to understand the impact of toxocariasis in pregnancy.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. infections among pregnant women with and without previous abortions in the west of Iran

“…antibodies in 21.2% of the pregnant women studied. This prevalence was higher than that reported among pregnant women from Brazil (6.43%) 7 and Greek (17.16%) 18 and but lower (35%) than that found among pregnant women in the United States. 19 Co-infection with both T. gondii and Toxocara spp.…”

“…Although, infection with T. gondii , a protozoan parasite, is usually asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic in immunocompetent people, during pregnancy the infection can be congenitally transmitted to fetuses, causing severe neurologic or ocular disorders in the offsprings . Human infection with Toxocara spp., a helminth parasite, is mostly asymptomatic and probably its morbidity depends on a number of larvae ingested and the immune status of the host . There are few studies on the risks of Toxocara spp.…”

“…6 Human infection with Toxocara spp., a helminth parasite, is mostly asymptomatic and probably its morbidity depends on a number of larvae ingested and the immune status of the host. 7 There are few studies on the risks of Toxocara spp. infections to the mothers and the fetuses during pregnancy.…”

Toxocara spp. seroprevalence in pregnant women in Brasília, Brazil

“…IgG had at least one abortion in previous pregnancies, while the frequency of abortion in those with negative serology was 8.6% (4) . Moreover, Gasanova (11) found a prevalence of abortion in 56% of T. canisinfected patients, as well as reproductive changes, reinforcing the tropism of Toxocara spp. to the genital tract.…”

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Toxocara infection in Korean, Manchu, Mongol, and Han ethnic groups in northern China

“…Consequently, investigators have focused more on the global seroprevalence of Toxocara spp. in humans [10,13,[17][18][19][20][21][22]. There are 56 ethnicities in China [23].…”