Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women in China

Abstract

Infection with Toxoplasma gondii is common and usually asymptomatic, but it can have serious consequences in pregnant women if passed to the developing fetus. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and to identify the possible risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in China. Of a sample of 235 pregnant women in Changchun, China, 25 (10.6%) were found by ELISA to be positive for IgG and none (0%) for IgM. Major risk factors were found by bivariate and multivariate analysis to include eating raw or undercooked meat, unwashed raw vegetables or fruit, contact with cats, living in rural areas, and low educational standards. In order to lower congenital infection, pregnant women need to be informed about the risk factors for toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmosis-Serological Evidence and Associated Risk Factors among Pregnant Women in Southern Thailand

“…The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma IgG antibody in our pregnant women increased with age, [25][26][27][28] and can be explained because even though some of these countries are located in different geographical zones, we definitely share certain similarities in terms of our environment, culture, and life styles. When considering residential areas, the prevalence rate of Toxoplasma infection seems to be higher in rural or suburban areas 16,27,29,30 than for people living in urban or cosmopolitan areas, which was also evidenced in our study. In Thailand, local people in general and rural communities in particular are still living in a low socio-economic condition and some could have been infected with T. gondii outside of Songkhla province.…”

“…Surprisingly, this study produced a higher prevalence rate when compared with earlier studies in this region ( Figure 1 ), such as 2.5% to 27.2% 5, 7, 9-11 from the central/ capital (Bangkok), 2.8% 6 from the north (Chiang Mai), and 3-12% 12, 13 from the northeastern parts of Thailand. This is also a higher rate than reported from other Asian countries, including rates of 3.7% in Korea, 14 7.7% in Vietnam, 15 10.6% in China, 16 and 17.2% in Singapore. 17 In general, the Toxoplasma prevalence rate remains high in many parts of the world, e.g., 40.8% in Nigeria, 18 48.6% in Albania, 19 49% in Malaysia, 20 and 68.6% in Brazil.…”

Sero-epidemiology and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women in Arab and African countries

“…A study in Côte d'Ivoire evaluating risk factors for toxoplasmosis showed that contact with soil and uncooked food were the only sources of contamination (Adou-Bryn et al 2004). This is consistent with results from a study in China that found that consumption of unwashed raw vegetables and fruits was associated with increased toxoplasmosis infection during pregnancy (Liu et al 2009). Similarly, other studies proved that farming contact with soil were strong predictors of infectivity with T. gondii infection (Cook et al 2000).…”

Portugal and Angola: similarities and differences inToxoplasma gondiiseroprevalence and risk factors in pregnant women

“…The absence of association at the limit of significance between T. gondii seropositivity with activities and practices that promote contact with soil (gardening) may have been influenced by the fact that most of the pregnant women studied originate from urban areas in both countries. Studies conducted in China describe a seroprevalence variation with location (rural vs. urban) with a higher prevalence in the countryside (12·7% vs. 7·5%) [30]. In contrast, Ramsewak et al [28] could not corroborate these findings.…”