High Incidence of Toxoplasmosis During Pregnancy in Nigeria

Abstract

Sera from 606 women of child-bearing age from the Benue River Basin area of Nigeria were screened by serological tests to determine the incidence of toxoplasmosis in Nigeria; 43.7% had serologic evidence of infection, increasing from 25% in the group of 15 to 18-year-old women to 71.4% in the 39-42 year age group. Using a previously published epidemiological model, the incidence rate for each age group varied from 0.5% for 15 years old women to 5.3% in the age group 37 years, with an overall rate of 1.8%. Extending this model as it applies to the estimation of incidence of infection during pregnancy, a 5.4% expected rate of seroconversion was found.

Serological screening and toxoplasmosis exposure factors among pregnant women in South of Brazil

“…Cuba, for example, has 29.1% seronegativity in pregnant women 20 . However such data differ between authors, in Nigeria, women of reproductive age show 54.3% seronegativity 34 . The existence of this group of women susceptible to first infection during pregnancy and possible congenital transmission indicates the need for primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.…”

Nephrotic syndrome associated with toxoplasmosis: report of seven cases

“…Recent seroepidemiological surveys performed in different segments of the Brazilian population revealed infection rates ranging from 32.4 to 74.5%, depending on the age, with highest values occurring in adults 3,16,17,18 . In other countries high rates of human infection with T. gondii can also be found 1,6,8,11,15 .…”

Seroprevalence of Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies Among Pregnant Woman in South Khuzestan, Iran

“…In a similar study in Nigeria, seroprevalence rates of toxoplasmosis were estimated to vary from 7% - 51.3% in normal pregnant women to 17.5% - 52.3% in women with abnormal pregnancies and abortions (6, 7). Conducted studies in Senegal and Sudan in pregnant women showed IgG seroprevalence rates of 40.2% and 34.1% (8, 9).…”