Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study had sought to assess the seroreactivity to the fish nematode Anisakis spp. in a puerperal population, as well as to ascertain whether a correlation exists between maternal and cord blood levels. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from puerperal women and cord blood to measure specific anti-Anisakis antigen IgG and IgE by ELISA. Non-parametric tests were used to compare two or more independent and related samples. RESULTS: Of the 99 maternal serum samples assessed, 21 were positive on ELISA (21.2%). There were no significant differences in the mean ranks of IgG optical density levels between women who ate fish and those who did not (p = 0.456), those who ate raw fish and those who did not (p = 0.479), or between those who had allergic complaints and those who did not (p = 0.431). CONCLUSION: Transplacental passage of antibodies occurred, leading to moderate correlation between maternal and cord blood serum levels.