Kasmera (Sep 2008)
Toxoplasmosis Seroprevalence in a Pediatric Population, Mara Municipality, State of Zulia
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most frequent protozoonosis in the human being. The objective of this study was to determine toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in an infantile population from the Mara Municipality, State of Zulia. 119 serum samples from both sexes (53 male and 66 female) with ages between 4-13 years were studied. The toxoplasmic antibodies were determined by the indirect hemaglutination technique. Statistical analysis was done using the Chi square test and Spearman’s correlation. General prevalence of the infection was 15.9%. The positive serum frequency was greater in the 10-13 year age range (8/25) with 32.0%. It was observed that the number of positive cases increased in relation to the age group. No statistically significant differences related to gender were observed; nevertheless, a greater positive tendency was observed for females in the 10-13 year group. The geometric average was 9.479. The range of positive titles was from 1:64 to 1:2.097.512; the lowest title was 1:64 with 5.26% (1/19) and the highest was 1:2.097.512 with 5.26% (1/19). Results indicate that this disease is frequent in this infantile population.
