SEROPREVALENCE OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS AND TOX OPLASMA-GONDII IN HEALTHY-SUBJECTS LESS-THAN 30 YEARS OLD IN SANTIAGO, CHILE

Background: Infections by Cytomegalovirus and Toxoplasma gondii are en demic in Chile and only a low proportion of infected individuals have clinical manifestations. Aim: To study the prevalence of infection by Cytomegalovirus and Toxoplasma gondii in Chile. Subjects and methods: The prevalence of IgG antibodies against Cytomegalovirus and Toxoplasm a gondii were studied in 560 subjects under 30 years old, using an ELI SA technique. Age, socioeconomic level breast feeding, assistance to n urseries and number of family members were considered as risk factors for these infections. Results: Infection by Cytomegalovirus had a glob al prevalence of 60%. It showed all epidemiological pattern of late ac quisition in high socioeconomic levels and a pattern of early infectio n in medium and late socioeconomic levels. Eighty to 90% of sera were positive for the infection in adult subjects of the three socioeconomi c levels. There was a positive correlation between the duration of bre ast feeding and the frequency of Cytomegalovirus infection. Infection by Toxoplasma gondii had a global prevalence of 24.6%. The rates of su sceptible individuals were 80 and 50% in high and medium-low socioecon omic levels respectively. Conclusions: The knowledge about the frequen cy of these infections in high risk populations such as women during t heir reproductive years and immunodepressed individuals, will allow th e implementation of preventive measures.