Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies: Prevalence and Risk Factors among Pregnant Women Accessing Antenatal Care in Some Primary Health Centers in Jos Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii infection causes high rate of gestational and congenital infection across the globe and is considered a both a public health problem and a neglected disease. The study was carried out to determine the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and the associated risk factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in some Primary Health Centres in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. In this cross-sectional study carried out within 5 months between Jan – May 2019, a total of 182 blood samples were collected from consenting pregnant women. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demography and risk factors. Three millilitres (3 ml) of blood samples were collected from the study participants. Sera were separated from the blood and evaluated for anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies (IgG and IgM) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The data collected from the experiment were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Out of the 182 samples examined, 84 (46.2%) had anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody, 2 (1.1%) had IgM antibody while 98 (53.4%) were neither seropositive for IgG nor IgM. Trimester of pregnancy was significantly associated with prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibody. In conclusion, Toxoplasmosis is prevalent in Jos. Eleven out of every 1000 women (i.e. 1.1%) had recent toxoplasmosis and 53.4% were not protected against primary infection thereby underscoring the need for prevention and control during pregnancy through enlightenment.

Sero-Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Pregnant Women Attending Ante Natal Care in Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH)

“…The occupation of the study participants showed that pregnant women who were unemployed had significantly higher prevalence compared with the employed. This is in accord with [29] who found more prevalence among the unemployed women in Jos with the students having the highest prevalence (66.7%), while civil servants had the highest prevalence (50%) among the employed women. This varies with the findings that pregnant women who were employed were more IgG seronegative (susceptible) than the employed and are at higher risk of contracting primary T. gondii infections [25].…”

“…There was no significant difference in the sero-positivity of those who ate stick meat (suya) and owing cat(s) and those who did not. The none significant association between T. gondii infection and ownership of cat is consistent with [28,29] who observed no significant association between sero-prevalence of T. gondii antibodies and cat ownership and contact with cats respectively. Contact with cats does not translate to zoonosis, but more pertinent in causing zoonosis is the improper handling of cats' fecal matter [39].…”

“…This agrees with the report that women at third trimester had the highest IgG seropositivity [25]. This result is in contrast with [29,30], who separately reported higher prevalence in women at their first and first and second trimester respectively. T. gondii infections acquired by a mother during the second or third trimester had a higher (up to 68%) probability of infecting their unborn babies, with less severe repercussions [31].…”