Congenital toxoplasmosis in Jalisco Mexico

Congenital toxoplasmosis is a health problem in Mexico, higher prevalence of IgG antibodies T. gondii has been found in mothers with high risk pregnancy  and newborn with clinically abnormal. Around 2,000,000 children are born in Mexico each year. Thus, 4,000 undetected cases of congenital infection could be being born in Mexico. A frequency of two cases of congenital T. gondii infection per 1,000 newborns in Mexico City was found.
The purpose of this study was to find the frequency of IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in newborns.
Material and methods: Samples of 860 infants who brown in Hospital number 110 of social security in Guadalajara City in Jalisco Mexico from January to June  2007. Blood samples embedded in filter paper were assayed for IgM antibodies using a capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were confirmed by Western blot.
Results: Six asymptomatic newborns had IgM and IgG antibodies in a serum sample taken from both the infant and the mother and were clinically followed.
Conclusions: The frequency was of six cases of congenital T. gondii infection per 860 newborns in Guadalajara City and higher than found in Mexico City.
Health institutions must introduce new health and epidemiological programs how prevention and control of T. gondii  infection in all pregnant women, monitoring of seroconversion during pregnancy and  use of high sensitive and specific diagnostic tests such as Western-blot.
key words: Toxoplasmosis, congenital infection, diagnostic