Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and associated risk factors among pregnant women in Debre Tabor, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

BackgroundToxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan organism that infects both birds and mammals. Human infections are particularly serious if they occur during pregnancy and may result in abortion or congenitally acquired disorders which primarily affect the central nervous system. This study assessed seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and associated risk factors among pregnant women at Debre Tabor, Northwest Ethiopia.MethodsAn institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May, 2013. A total of 263 pregnant women who came to Debre Tabor public health facilities for antenatal care were selected and included in the study. The venous blood serum was tested using toxolatex agglutination test. Data on socio-demographic and potential risk factors were collected using structured questionnaire through face-to-face interview. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Both bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to identify associations between dependent and independent variables.ResultsOf 263 pregnant women included in the study, 180 (68.4%, 95% CI: 63.1-71.4%) were found to be seropositive for anti-toxoplasma antibody. Multivariable analysis showed; age group ≥36 years (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 3.56; 95% CI: 1.01–12.5), cannot read and write (AOR = 4.77; 95% CI: 1.01-30.3), and cat ownership (AOR = 3.36; 95% CI: 1.39-8.12) were significantly associated with seropositivity of T.gondii infection.ConclusionsSeroprevalence of T.gondii infection in Debre Tabor town was high. Age, educational status and presence of cats in home were identified as factors associated with T.gondii infection. Education of pregnant women about the transmission and prevention methods of this infection through health extension and in antenatal care clinics is important. Besides, studies on incidence of toxoplasmosis in newborns and infants are recommended.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women from Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

“…Our result was lower than those reported in Ghana (92.5%) [15] and in Ethiopia (higher than 68%) [3, 8, 16, 17]. However, lower seroprevalence of T. gondii was reported in many European countries and the United States of America [18].…”

A Large-Scale Serological Survey of Toxoplasma gondii Infection Among Persons Participated in Health Screening in Yunnan Province, Southwestern China

“…For this research, there was a significant difference in T. gondii seroprevalence among different age groups ( p < 0.01). The highest T. gondii seroprevalence was found in the age range of 41-50 years (10.60%, 228/2150; OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.75-2.74, p < 0.01), this is similar to that reported by others (Agmas et al 2015, Cong et al 2015b. The probability of having higher seroprevalence in the age group had long duration of exposure and weak consciousness of prevention because people in this age group did more work on farming and cleaning up their homes and pet poop compared with other age groups.…”

Prevalence and risk factors profile of seropositiveToxoplasmosis gondiiinfection among apparently immunocompetent Sudanese women

“…However, this seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies was higher than that reported in European, North and West American continents (9, 34). Such variations could be due to different study settings in terms of multiple climatic conditions, heterogenous study population and risk factors profile such as contact with pets, hygienic practice, and feeding habit (28, 29, 31, 35, 36). The result of those who aged 21-30 years having the highest frequency of T. gondii infection (28.9%) was similar to previous reports (28, 29, 36) with the exception of one study conducted in Burkina Faso that showed these who aged more than 30 years were the most infected age group (35).…”