MISCARRIAGE HISTORY AND TOXOPLASMA GONDII INFECTION: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN WOMEN IN DURANGO CITY, MEXICO

Through a cross-sectional study design, 326 women with a history of miscarriage were examined for anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies in Durango City, Mexico. Prevalence association with sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics in women with miscarriage was also investigated. Twenty-two (6.7%) of the 326 women studied had anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies and two (0.6%) were also positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was not influenced by age, birth place, occupation, educational level, or socioeconomic status. In contrast, logistic regression showed that T. gondii exposure was associated with consumption of raw or undercooked meat (OR = 6.84; 95% CI: 1.04-44.95; P = 0.04) and consumption of chicken brains (OR = 18.48; 95% CI: 1.26-269.43; P = 0.03). This is the first study on the seroepidemiology of T. gondii infection in women with a history of miscarriage in Northern Mexico. Of interest, we also observed an association of T. gondii exposure with consumption of chicken brains. Contributing factors for T. gondii exposure found in the present study should be taken into consideration for public health measures to avoid infection with T. gondii and its sequelae.