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Congenital Toxoplasmosis: Current Brazilian public health policy

Rogerio S. Vaz1*
  • 1 Complexo Pequeno Principe, Brazil

Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. In pregnant women, the prenatal diagnosis should be made as early as possible, so that therapy may be applied to reduce parasitemia and avoid transplacental infection. Despite the high prevalence of infected individuals around the world (20-90%) in Brazil, seroprevalence may vary between 40% and > 80%, reflecting a significant disparity between the public health policies and resources applied in the different regions of the country and the human development index (HDI) of each of them. The lack of consistent and periodical data on seroprevalence per region makes it difficult to understand the significance of this infection and to plan specific public health policies and strategies. Regarding basic and clinical research, toxoplasmosis is not a priority if compared to the allocation of government funds and incentives to other tropical illnesses, such as: Chagas disease, Leishmaniasis, Dengue fever. There are also few study groups in Brazil that focus in this basic area, for genomics and proteomics studies of T. gondii strains-for the design of new methods of diagnosis, antiparasitic drugs and a vaccine model for humans and animals. This study highlights, taxonomic and epidemiologic aspects, diagnosis methods, treatment and technical-scientific aspects of Toxoplasma gondii and toxoplasmosis in the Brazilian context.

References

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Keywords: seroepidemiology, Toxoplasmosis, Public Health, Pregnancy, Risk factors

Conference: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Milan, Italy, 22 Aug - 27 Aug, 2013.

Presentation Type: Abstract

Topic: Host-pathogen interactions

Citation: Vaz RS (2013). Congenital Toxoplasmosis: Current Brazilian public health policy. Front. Immunol. Conference Abstract: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI). doi: 10.3389/conf.fimmu.2013.02.00428

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Received: 31 Mar 2013; Published Online: 22 Aug 2013.

* Correspondence: Dr. Rogerio S Vaz, Complexo Pequeno Principe, Curitiba, Paraná, 80230-020, Brazil, rogerio.saad@ufpr.br