Foundation:

acquired toxoplasmosis in children during the first years of life is the consequence of the oral transmission of this parasitosis.

Objective:

to determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in children in the first years of life and relate them to epidemiological variables of infestation.

Methods:

descriptive and cross-sectional study to examine the presence of IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in children from one to six years of age in the rural area of ​​the Cueto municipality during the period 2020-2021. Quota probabilistic sampling was used and demographic and epidemiological variables were collected. A sample of 200 children was obtained, from whom serum was taken through venipuncture. The IFI technique was used to determine the presence of IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and the Pearson Chi-Square non-parametric test was applied to verify research hypotheses.

Results:

seropositivity to T. gondii was 58% in the studied sample; A relationship was found between the infestation and the coexistence with domestic cats and with the origin of the water. No significant differences were found in the prevalence of T. gondii in relation to age, sex, social and cultural level, and environmental hygiene, consumption of meat, fruit, and vegetables, and living with farm animals.

Conclusions:

T. gondii seroprevalence is evidenced in the child population from one to six years of age and its relationship with the source of water and living with cats.

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