Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and the associated risk factors in sheep and pregnant women in El-Minya Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

<jats:p>Background and Aim: The cosmopolite protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii, has a significant economic and medical impact. Cats traditionally play a predominant role in the disease maintenance cycle; however, humans can be infected as a result of milk and meat consumption of Toxoplasma-infected livestock. In addition, infected pregnant women, even symptomless, can pass the disease to their unborn fetus. The limited clinical records and absence of specific national educational programs in countries like Egypt underscore the need for periodic toxoplasmosis disease evaluation. Here, we identified T. gondii seroprevalence among sheep and pregnant women and the associated risk factors in El-Minya Governorate, Egypt. Materials and Methods: Using peripheral blood, we detected T. gondii-specific antibodies in 151 sheep and 96 pregnant women sera from El-Minya Governorate using latex agglutination and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The impact of different environmental and behavioral risk factors identified with in-person interviews and serology results on acquiring toxoplasmosis was statistically analyzed. Results: The overall toxoplasmosis seroprevalence was 39.1% and 22.9% in sheep and pregnant women, respectively. Significantly higher seroprevalence was correlated with increasing sheep age and geographical location. Nonetheless, no statistical significance was found based on abortion history and pregnancy status of the examined sheep. Exposure factors important for pregnant women included pregnancy trimester, contact with cats, and the habit of eating undercooked sheep meat, which all had a statistically significant association with Toxoplasma seropositivity. Conclusion: The current study confirms increased antibodies against toxoplasmosis in both sheep and pregnant women in El-Minya Governorate and a clear association between women's age, contact with cats, and the habit of eating undercooked sheep meat and seroreactivity to T. gondii. These results strongly suggest the need for a more comprehensive epidemiological study and public health awareness education for toxoplasmosis.</jats:p>

Potential risk factors associated with seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women and HIV infected individuals in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…We used the following inclusion criteria to confirm the eligibility of the searched papers: (1) original research articles and theses; (2) cross-sectional, case-control and cohort studies that were reported seroprevalence and risk factors; (3) studies with full texts; (4) targeted study population: pregnant women and HIV infected individuals of Ethiopia; (5) studies with serological tests; (6) studies that provided the total sample size and the outcome of interest; and (7) studies published in the English language. Each paper that did not meet the above-mentioned criteria was excluded.…”

“…Food animals with infected tissue cysts are important sources of human infection. Humans can acquire the infection through three main pathways: 1) by eating raw or undercooked meat harbouring viable tissue cysts; 2) by ingesting contaminated water and food or soil with oocysts shed by cats to the environment and 3) congenital transmission from infected mother to the foetus during pregnancy [3][4][5][6]. Domestic and wild felids play an important role in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii because they are the only definitive hosts capable of excreting viable oocysts in their faeces [3].…”

Prevalence and associated risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep and aborted women in Egypt

“…In Egypt, nearly similar high seroprevalence, 61.76% in sheep and 63.79% in pregnant women from Menoufia and Gharbiya provinces in the Delta, respectively (31). At the same time, 39.1% and 22.9% were lower seroprevalences recorded in sheep and pregnant women from El-Minya Governorate, respectively (32). In the Cairo governorate, previous studies found that 46% of sheep and 60.7% of aborted women were positive for Toxo IgG by ELISA (20,33).…”

Seroprevalence and Genetic Characterization of Toxoplasma gondii among Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Egypt

“…Besides, anti- Toxoplasma IgG was detected in 42% of mentally retarded children [ 22 ]. A study conducted to investigate T. gondii prevalence among pregnant women in Egypt recorded a rate of 22.9% [ 23 ].…”