Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes fecal carriers in HIV-infected and -uninfected pregnant women from Brazil

Objective The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of Listeria spp. in feces of HIV-infected and -uninfected pregnant women in Brazil. Methods Cross-sectional study. Women on their second or third trimester of pregnancy were submitted to a clinical questionnaire and feces collection. The feces were inoculated on selective media and identification by biochemical tests combined with PCR. Results A total of 213 pregnant women were enrolled: 73 (34%) HIV-infected and 140 (66%) -non-infected. The prevalence of Listeria spp . and L. monocytogenes in feces of HIV-infected women were 8.2% and 2.7%. In the HIV-uninfected were 8.6% and 2.9% ( p -values = 0.98 and 0.66, respectively) . Conclusion The prevalence of fecal carriers of Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes was not associated with HIV infection during pregnancy.