Epidemiological profile of gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis in the Federal District, Brazil, 2019 to 2023

Abstract

Introduction: Toxoplasmosis is a globally prevalent disease, affecting approximately 25% to 30% of the population. Despite its high prevalence, clinical manifestations are rare. Diagnosing Toxoplasma gondii infection during pregnancy is crucial, even in asymptomatic cases, with the primary goal of preventing congenital toxoplasmosis and its potential long-term sequelae. Objective: To describe the epidemiological profile of gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis in the Federal District, Brazil, from 2019 to 2023. Methods: This study is a descriptive, retrospective analysis of gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis, utilizing secondary data obtained from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sinan-Net) database. Results: During the study period, 370 cases of gestational toxoplasmosis and 253 cases of congenital toxoplasmosis were confirmed. The cumulative incidence was 35 per 100,000 women of childbearing age and 79.7 per 10,000 live births, respectively. Notably, the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis increased by 143.8% over the study period. Among pregnant women, prevalence was highest in the second trimester and in those aged 20 to 29 years. In both groups, individuals of brown race/color and those residing in urban areas were most affected. The highest cumulative incidences were observed in the Structural Administrative Region for gestational toxoplasmosis and the Fercal Administrative Region for congenital toxoplasmosis. Conclusion:  The incidence of both gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis increased during the study period. Gestational toxoplasmosis was more frequently observed in the second trimester of pregnancy and among young women. Cases of congenital toxoplasmosis were evenly distributed between sexes but were more prevalent among children of brown race/color residing in urban areas.