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Original Article

Maternal infection with toxoplasma gondii in pregnancy and the risk of hearing loss in the offspring

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Pages 65-68 | Received 10 Oct 2008, Accepted 24 Jul 2009, Published online: 07 Jan 2010
 

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between maternal infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in pregnancy and subsequent risk of hearing loss in the offspring. The study included 27 727 children born in Norway 1992–1994. Maternal toxoplasma infection during pregnancy was ascertained by serological examination and fetal infection was ascertained by parasite detection in amniotic fluid and/or postnatal serological examination. Hearing loss was defined as mean hearing loss >35 dB HL in the better ear averaged over the pure-tone hearing thresholds at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz, and the children were identified through linkage to the Norwegian Registry of Hearing Loss in Children. Twenty-two of the 27 727 children (0.08%) were diagnosed with hearing loss. Forty women had primary T. gondii infection in pregnancy. None of their offspring had hearing loss. There was also no association between T. gondii infection prior to pregnancy and hearing loss in the offspring. Hence, we did not find any association between T. gondii infection in pregnancy and hearing loss in the offspring.

Sumario

El propósito de este estudio fue investigar la asociación entre la infección materna con Toxoplasma gondii (T. Gondii) en el embarazo y el riesgo subsiguiente de pérdida auditiva en el bebé. El estudio incluyó 27.727 niños nacidos en Noruega entre 1992 y 1994. La infección materna por toxoplasma durante el embarazo fue evaluada por examen serológico y la infección fetal fue evaluada por detección del parásito en el líquido amniótico y/o por examen serológico post-natal. La pérdida auditiva fue definida como una hipoacusia media de > 35 dB en el mejor oído, promediado con base en los umbrales auditivos de tonos puros en 500, 1000 y 2000 Hz, y los niños fueron identificados a través de contacto con el Registro Noruego de Hipoacusia en Niños. Veintidós de los 27.727 niños (0.08%) se diagnosticaron con una pérdida auditiva. Cuarenta mujeres tuvi-eron infección primaria por T. Gondii durante el embarazo. Ninguno de sus hijos exhibieron una pérdida auditiva. No existió asociación entre la infección por T. Gondii antes del embarazo y la hipoacusia en el producto. Por tanto, no encontramos ninguna asociación entre la infección por T. Gondii en el embarazo y la aparición de una pérdida auditiva en el producto.

Acknowledgements

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

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