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

Abstract

BackgroundToxoplasmosis is caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It is acquired by consumption of raw or undercooked meat containing tissue cyst, food or water contaminated with oocyst and congenital infection through the placenta leading to serious congenital abnormalities in the fetus like miscarriage, stillbirth, intrauterine death and neurologic defects. Therefore; this study was aimed to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis infection and its possible risk factors associated with pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Hawassa and Yiregalem Hospitals, Southern Ethiopia.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2016 to May 2017. The study was done in antenatal care clinics of Hawassa and Yiregalem Hospitals in Southern, Ethiopia. Five hundred pregnant women were interviewed with a pretested structured questionnaire to collect risk factors and socio-demographic data. Blood samples were collected and serum was separated and tested for anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using ELISA (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical software. The risk factors were tested for significance using Bivariate and multivariate analysis. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe weighted prevalence of this study was 81.8% for the anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibody. Almost all participants (99.6%) had no information about the disease. A significant association was observed between seroprevalence and contact with domestic cats (OR = 1.206, 95% CI (1.627–2.206, P = 0.043), consumption of raw meat (OR = 0.848, 95% CI: 1.517–2.941, P = 0.019) and unpasteurized milk (OR = 0.871, 95% CI 1.531–2.221, P = 0.032). A significant association was not observed between seroprevalence and age, history of abortion, and blood transfusion.ConclusionsThe findings of this study demonstrated a relatively higher prevalence of seropositivity than studies reported from other countries. Existence of domestic cats at home, consumption of undercooked meat and unpasteurized milk were identified as risk factors for T. gondii infection. Therefore, a health education program to increase the mother’s knowledge about toxoplasmosis towards avoiding eating undercooked meat, contact with cats and consumption of unpasteurized milk during pregnancy is recommended. Furthermore, our results suggested that the implementation of newborn screening and follow-up testing can lead to reducing of toxoplasmosis associated complications.

&lt;i&gt;Toxoplasmosis&lt;/i&gt; Sero-Prevalence, Awareness and Risk Behavior Among Pregnant Women Following Antenatal Care in Asella Teaching and Referral Hospital, Asella, Ethiopia

“…This study was showed as the difference in educational status of the study participants have no effect on the seroprevalence, because only 1.8% was heard about Toxoplasmosis even though they were in different educational level and 98.2% doesn't have any information (table 1). This agrees with the study done in Hawassa and Yirgalem Hospitals southern, Ethiopia which indicated as 99.6% of the study participants was no information about Toxoplasmosis [37]. But in reality it is extremely important to increase awareness on the transmission of toxoplasmosis at all level.…”

Seroprevalence of Anti–Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

“…In our study, most of the pregnant women in the first, second, and third trimester of their gestation were infected with T gondii , but no significant association was found between seropositivity of anti– T gondii antibodies and gestational ages of the pregnant women, and this is comparable to a finding reported from greater Accra region of Ghana. 44 Contrary to this, 2 studies from Ethiopia by Endris et al 15 and Fenta 45 demonstrated statistically significant positive association between the seroprevalence of T gondii infection and the second and third trimesters of gestational age of pregnancy.…”

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

“…Out of the total of 210 pregnant women, 159 (75.7%) were seropositive for T. gondii, and the odds ratio of having T. gondii infection was high in pregnant women within the age category 36-44 years [58]. A similar study conducted in at Hawassa University comprehensive specialized and Yirgalem General Hospitals in Southern Ethiopia reported a weighted prevalence of 81.8% for the anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibody, and a significant association was observed between seroprevalence and contact with domestic cats [59].…”