Seroprevalence Of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> In Nazaret Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis, assess its zoonotic importance and identify factors associated with seroprevalence. Methods: Questionnaire survey was conducted on 65 serum samples collected from male and female urban and peri-urban residents aged between 15 days and 65 years. Main outcome measures were feeding habits, purpose of keeping cats and association with family members. Serologic evidence of toxoplasmosis was conducted by the Modified Direct Agglutination Test (MDA T) and determination of HIV status using the HIV -Spot Test. Results: Over 50% of the interviewed people had a history of consumption of raw or undercooked mutton and had close contact with cats. 60% of the serum samples analyzed by the MDA T had serologic evidence of Toxoplasma infection. Significantly higher MDA T tiers were encountered both in pregnant and immunocompromised individuals. The risk factors associated to Toxoplasma infection, i.e. raw or undercooked mutton consumption and presence of cats appeared significant. Conclusion and recommendations: The significance of toxoplasmosis as a disease of zoonotic importance was demonstrated. Close contact between family members and the consumption of raw or undercooked mutton were the major risk factors in the transmission of the disease. Considering the relatively high prevalence as revealed by this study it would be important to conduct studies on a wider scale. It would also be important to increase public awareness and upgrade the knowledge on congenital toxoplasmosis.

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

“…Toxoplasmosis is a treatable though likely fatal disease. The problem with most communities with substantial prevalence of T. gondii infection is the long-term complications which follows congenital infections and the ability to cause opportunistic infections that are life-threatening in immunocompromised or immunosuppressed individuals 3,31 .…”

“…Toxoplasma gondii, which occurs worldwide, is an obligate intracellular apicomplexan protozoan parasite that is responsible for toxoplasmosis in animals and humans 1,2 . It is estimated that over one-third of the world human population is infected, with reported incidence rate of congenital toxoplasmosis ranging from 400 to Journal of Health Science Research, Vol 6(1), 2021, 9-17 *Author for correspondence 4000 cases per year 3,4 . The parasite is implicated for 1.2 million disability-adjusted life years annually 5 .…”

A Review on the Present Advances on Studies of Toxoplasmosis in Eastern Africa

“…Pregnant and immunocompromised individuals have a significantly higher chance of T. gondii infection than the immunocompetent [24]. In immunocompromised humans a previously acquired latent infection can lead to reactivated toxoplasmosis with encephalitis.…”