Human Parasitic Diseases

Toxoplasmosis serodiagnosis was analyzed in the Instituto de Medicina Tropical in Caracas during 1999–2013. Subjects for toxoplasmosis diagnosis were grouped into five categories: pregnancy, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome, ocular pathology, lymphadenopathy, and others. Testing for specific anti-Toxoplasma IgM/IgG antibodies, as well as IgG avidity, was performed. Analysis of 68,622 individuals resulted in an overall prevalence of 50.9%, with 50.9% in pregnant women, 63.8% in patients with eye lesions, 53.1% in HIV-positive individuals, 33.3% in patients with lymphadenopathy, and 49% in other individuals. Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women aged ≤15 years was 32%, which increased to 64% in the middle age category. Diagnostic tests detected 54 recent infections in pregnant women and their follow-up showed no congenital infection. The present age-related and comorbidity prevalence data should be used to design control measures to prevent congenital transmission, coinfection in immunosuppressed patients, and eye lesions in children.