Oocysts ingestion as an iImportant transmission route of toxoplasma gondii in brazilian urban children

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan protozoan infection. Data regarding risk factors for the post-natal acquisition of Toxoplasma gondii infection in childhood are limited. We conducted a serological survey for T. gondii IgG antibodies and associated risk factors in 1,217, 4- to 11-yr-old children from Salvador, Brazil using a commercial ELISA kit; antibodies were found in 17.5% of the children. Age (OR=2.18; 95%CI: 1.50-3.17) and maternal schooling level (OR=0.62; 95%CI: 0.42-0.92) were negatively associated with infection. A greater number of siblings (OR=1.53; 95%CI: 1.12-2.09), cat at home (OR=1.54; 95%CI: 1.06-2.24), house with treated piped water (OR=2.54; 95%CI: 1.22-5.31), and the absence of a flush toilet at home (OR=1.45; 95%CI: 1.04-2.01) were positively associated with T. gondii infection. Our data suggest that low socioeconomic levels and poor hygiene habits are important factors in favoring T. gondii infection.