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Objective: to analyze the factors associated to toxoplasmosis-related knowledge among pregnant women attending public health services in the municipality of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil., Methods: this is a cross-sectional study conducted with pregnant women assisted in eight health care units; data was collected using a standardized questionnaire, from April 2013 to February 2015., Results: among the 405 pregnant women interviewed, 173 (42.7%) knew about toxoplasmosis and, of those, 24.3% knew about it through friends; the proportion of pregnant women with toxoplasmosis-related knowledge increased with age (p<0.001), education level (p<0.001) and the number of pregnancies (p=0.031); the history of abortion was also associated with toxoplasmosis-related knowledge (p=0.019)., Conclusion: the variables 'age', 'education level', 'number of pregnancies' and 'abortion history' were important factors for toxoplasmosis-related knowledge among pregnant women assisted in the public health care sector of Niterói.

From a canine case of american cutaneous leishmaniasis in the locality of Santa Rita de Cássia, municipality of Barra Mansa, Rio de Janeiro, a serological survey was performed on 177 dogs and 43 cats. Evaluation of the canine serum samples showed that 10% had a positive reaction in the indirect immunofluorescence test and 10.7% in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Among the feline serum samples tested, none of the animals had a positive reaction in the indirect immunofluorescence test and only one (2.4%) showed a positive reaction in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The detection of an autochthonous case of Leishmania braziliensis in Barra Mansa gives warning that a focus of american cutaneous leishmaniasis is possibly becoming established in this region.

To determine the prevalence of ocular toxoplasmosis among the general population of the district of Santa Rita de Cassia, Barra Mansa, State of Rio de Janeiro, a cross-sectional study on 1,071 individuals was performed. These subjects underwent serological tests (anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM) and physical and ophthalmological examinations. The diagnosis of presumed ocular toxoplasmosis was based on clinical and serological criteria and the appearance of the retinochoroidal lesion. The lesions were classified into three morphological types: 1. Limits marked with a halo of hyperpigmentation and an area of central chorioretinal atrophy; 2. Hypopigmented halo and hyperpigmented central area; and 3. Hyperpigmented or hypopigmented. The prevalence of healed lesions compatible with ocular toxoplasmosis was 3.8% among the general population and 5.8% among individuals who were seropositive for Toxoplasma gondii (65.9% of the individuals evaluated). Type-1 lesions (41.5%), female sex (68.3%), peripheral lesions (58.5%) and lesions smaller than three disc diameters predominated.

This study determined the occurrence of the antibodies anti-Toxoplasma gondii among the Enawenê-Nawê, an indigenous population of Mato Grosso. These inhabit a vast wild area, with rare contacts with non-Indians. They do not keep domestic animals, including cats. Their diet is based on insects, cassava, corn, honey and mushrooms, they do not consume meat, except fish. Based on the above, serologic tests ELISA-IgG and indirect fluorescent antibody test for IgG/IgM were performed. From 148 samples, 80.4% positive for IgG by ELISA or indirect fluorescent antibody test. No IgM reagent cases were detected. In that group the seropositivity rates increased significantly with age from 50% to 95%. Having analyzed their customs and habits, together with the high seropositivity found, it is suggested that the presence of wild felines in the vicinity of the village and areas where water collects could play an important role as an infection source, contaminating soil and consequently insects and mushrooms consumed by the Indians.

This study followed up 2,126 pregnant women cared for at SUS day-care clinics (Public Health Insurance System) of the northwest of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. After serological screening we performed a follow up of all pregnant women and their babies. Serologic tests included: IgG, IgM, IgA and IgG avidity levels, mice inoculation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) also placentas and umbilical materials were tested using immunoperoxidase as well as clinical evaluation. Of all the pregnant women screened, 74.5% were reactive to toxoplasmosis, and 3.6% presented IgM seropositivity. At ophthalmic evaluation ten women had ocular lesions and one infant presented eye lesions and brain calcification. The presence of anti-T.gondii specific IgM throughout the entire pregnancy did not characterize acute phase infection, for this, complementary tests were necessary. The importance is underscored for attendance of the newborn of mothers presenting serology compatible with this infection even in the absence of signs and symptoms of congenital toxoplasmosis.

Serology has been the most popular method to diagnose toxoplasmosis. Accordingly, this study standardizes an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compares its results with the IFI technique. In the IgG detection test, the standardized technique presented a sensibility (S) of 96.77%, a specificity (SP) of 75%, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 83.33%, a negative predictive value (NPV) of 94.74%, and an adjusted concordance (K) of 73.50%. The IFI exhibited 83.87% for S, 79.16% for SP, 83.81% for PPV, 79. 16% for NPV, and 63% for K. The rough concordance between these two tests (ELISA/IFI) was 88.35% for the IgG detection test and 81.55% for the IgM detection test. K was 70.82% and 1.31% for IgG and IgM, respectively, the correlation index (r) being 0.556 for IgG and -0. 023 for IgM. We can conclude that standardized ELISA-IgG is indicated in serologic selection processes, whereas the ELISA-IgM is not recommended for presenting low values for the adjusted concordance with the reference technique, which suggests not very reliable results.