Chronic toxoplasmosis and possible risk factors associated with pregnant women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is the major cause of abortion and stillbirths among women of childbearing age. The aim of this study is to determine chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection at various trimesters of pregnancy and to identify various possible routes of transmission and contamination in North-West Pakistan. A total of 733 blood samples were randomly obtained from antenatal/maternity centres. A detail questionnaire was designed to analyse the clinical history of the subjects tested for specific anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies by using immunofluorescence assay. Overall toxoplasmosis was detected in 18.41% of the studied population. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG was found 7.17% in first trimester with highest prevalence 31.28% in third trimester. Increase in the prevalence of parasite was seen with rise in age highest found in higher age group (P ˂ 0.05). As compared to district Lower Dir and Swat, Upper Dir had high rate 33.03% of chronic infection. Consumption of undercooked meat was also found 45.22% related with the prevalence of infection. A significant relation was observed with level of education (P ˂ 0.05) and prevalence of toxoplasmosis. An association was observed between prevalence of T. gondii infection and various risk factors, i.e. consumption of raw eggs, vegetables, contact with cats, cattle, soil, water sources and use of unpasteurized milk. This study shows high prevalence of the parasite in the studied area. Pregnant women in contact with cats were found more at risk. Education of childbearing age women, personal hygiene and contact with soil was also found important possible risk factors in the spread of infection.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Hawassa University comprehensive specialized and Yirgalem General Hospitals, in Southern Ethiopia

“…The highest T.gondii antibodies were found 213 (43.2%) in those pregnant women in the third trimester and there was a statistically significant association between the gestational age at (first, second and third trimester) and seropositivity of T.gondii antibody. This result is in agreement with other studies reported from Ethiopia [17] and Saud Arabia [33] but different reports from this finding were reported from Ethiopia [18, 31], Rwanda [30] and Egypt [37]. In this study 168(53.9%) of the participants had at least elementary education however, no significant difference was observed between the different levels of education.…”

“…Drinking of unpasteurized milk was significantly associated with seropositivity of T. gondii (OR = 0.871, 95% CI, 1.531–2.221, P = 0.033). Consistent results were reported from London [7], Khyber [33] and Egypt [37]. Inconsistent results in this study were reported from Ethiopia [16, 32], Cameroon [36] and Burkina Faso [43].…”

“…Similar findings were reported from [32–34]. On the other hand, opposite findings were reported from studies conducted in [33–36] between being rural or urban and T. gondii seropositivity.…”

Molecular identification of Toxoplasma gondii in domesticated and broiler chickens (Gallus domesticus) that possibly augment the pool of human toxoplasmosis

“…It is reported that about 50% of all human T. gondii infections are foodborne [13], and 30-63% of infections are associated with the consumption of meat [1]. Some recent reports from Pakistan showed the prevalence of T. gondii in human population range from 12-28% [14][15][16]. This study was, therefore, designed to analyze T. gondii in blood and tissues of domesticated and broiler chickens and to associate it with the prevalence of infection in human beings in the study area.…”

Occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and associated risk factors in women in selected districts of Punjab province, Pakistan

“…In the present study, the highest occurrence was found in those women who had contact with cats and the occurrence of T. gondii was found statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Our results are consistent with previous results (Majid et al ., 2016). They found a strong and significant relationship among the pregnant women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan and the disease incidence ( P < 0.05).…”