Knowledge and practices on toxoplasmosis in physicians attending pregnant women in Durango, Mexico

Objectives: To determine the level of knowledge and practices about toxoplasmosis in physicians attending pregnant women in Durango, Mexico. Materials and methods: One hundred physicians attending pregnant women in Durango, Mexico were surveyed. Of them, 67 were general practitioners, 17 family physicians, and 16 obstetricians. They were asked about (0 the parasite Toxoplasma gondii; (ii) general aspects about toxoplasmosis including clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiology; and (iii) their practices and experiences on toxoplasmosis. Results: From 66 to 89% (mean 78.5%) of physicians answered correctly about the parasite; 25 to 63% (mean 46.9%) answered correctly about clinical manifestations; and 36 to 45% (mean 40.5%) answered correctly about the serological diagnosis. Only 7% knew about the use of avidity test. Few physicians (23%) knew what medicaments are used against toxoplasmosis. From 12 to 86% (mean 40.3%) of participants answered correctly about transmission routes and only 7% got the right answer about susceptibility of infection. Fifty-nine percent of physicians never requested laboratory tests for detecting toxoplasmosis, and only 31% provide information for preventing infection to all their patients. Sixteen (16%) physicians had detected at least one case of Toxoplasma infection acquired during pregnancy. Conclusions: The physicians surveyed showed an incomplete knowledge about diagnosis and treatment of toxoplasmosis. Results are useful for optimal design of strategies in the medical education about toxoplasmosis.