Title : Epidemiological profile of gestational toxoplasmosis in Brazil from 2019 to 2024
Abstract:
Background: Gestational toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, is an infection that generates significant concern due to the risks associated with vertical transmission from mother to fetus, which occurs due to the parasite's ability to cross the placental barrier. When acquired during pregnancy, toxoplasmosis can lead to serious consequences, including spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, and congenital malformations such as hydrocephalus and chorioretinitis. In Brazil, the importance of gestational toxoplasmosis is amplified by the need for mandatory notification of the disease, an essential measure for monitoring and control. The objective of this study is understanding the epidemiological profile of gestational toxoplasmosis in Brazil from 2019 to 2024.
Methods: This is a descriptive, retrospective epidemiological study with quantitative analysis, using the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN - Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação [pt]) as a data source.
Results: Between 2019 and 2024, 72.307 cases were registered, with 2024 having the most cases (16.228) and 2019 the fewest (8.436). The regions with the most registered cases were the northeast (22.493) and southeast (22.090). The pregnant women are mostly of mixed race (36.460), aged between 20 and 39 years (55.657), with completed high school (20.214) and the most cases were diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy (27.198).
Conclusions: In Brazil, the prevalence and incidence of toxoplasmosis is high due to the parasite's durability in the environment, water and food, the coexistence of multiple T. gondii genotypes, large feline populations, lack of basic sanitation in certain populations and limited information about the parasite. Based on collected data, there was a 92.36% increase in confirmed cases of gestational toxoplasmosis from 2019 to 2024, raising an alert for health surveillance. On the other hand, the increase in the number of cases may be due to increased access to diagnostic tests, increased awareness among pregnant women and their families and improved epidemiological surveillance.
Keywords: Gestational toxoplasmosis, public health, epidemiology.
