UNIVERSIDADE DO ESTADO DO AMAZONAS - uea - pós graduação

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ABSTRACT
The present study has estimated the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii
infection within the rural population of Labrea county, in the Purus river, Amazonas
State, Brazil. The study included 714 subjects from a total of 141 families. Farmers
including, women and children working with survival agriculture. A high rate of
illiterates was found, and in general the families revealed precarious habits of
environmental and personal hygiene. Out of these, 360 (50.4%) were male and 354
(49.6%) were female, with a mean age of 20 years (1 to 87 years). The overall
prevalence rate of Toxoplasma gondii infection was 49.6% (IC95% 45,9 – 53,3)
measured by IgG antibodies (ELISA). Toxoplasma gondii infection was not
statistically associated with gender, ethnic group, human waste destination, habit of
eating raw meat or rare cooked, with the presence of domestic animals especially
with the presence of cats in the household, the use of shoes and with the contact
with soil. However, there was a significant difference with age and the presence of
sand in the backyard of the house. Probably, the role of the presence of sand in the
backyards and the influence of age are related to the sanitation, the infrastructure of
the houses, to the habits of hygiene and to the significant presence of cats in the
villages. Though, some question still must be answered mostly related to the ocular
infection, the presence of the infection in domestic and wild animals and the high
mean age of the positive individuals.
Key-words: Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasmosis. Labrea. Amazonas.