Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Northern Tanzania

Abstract

BackgroundAcute Toxoplasma gondii infection during pregnancy represents a risk for congenital disease, especially among women without previous exposure to infection. There is, however, a paucity of information about the epidemiology of T. gondii infection in pregnant women in Tanzania. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and associated demographic, clinical, and behavioral risk factors in pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic (ANC) at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC), a referral medical center in Northern Tanzania.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out from 1 February to 30 April 2017. Data on maternal demographic characteristics, obstetric history, knowledge, and practices related to T. gondii infection were collected from 254 pregnant women attending antenatal care at KCMC. A sample of 4 mL of blood was collected from each participant and sera prepared from each sample. Serum samples were tested for the presence of specific T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies by indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). DNA was extracted from whole blood for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, targeting the DNA sequence coding for the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1).ResultsThe overall T. gondii seroprevalence, including both IgM- and IgG-positive individuals, was 44.5%. Of the 254 tested women, 102 and 23 were seropositive for T. gondii-specific IgG and IgM antibodies respectively and 113 individuals had antibodies of either or both classes. All IgM-positive samples were also tested by PCR, and all were negative. The majority (90%) of the women surveyed had never heard about toxoplasmosis. Consumption of raw vegetables [aOR = 0. 344; 95% CI 0.151–0.784; p = 0.011] and having regular contact with soil [aOR = 0.482; 95% CI 0.268–0.8681; p = 0.015] were both associated with T. gondii antibody status. Inverse relationships with probability of T. gondii exposure were observed, such that these practices were associated with reduced probability of antibody detection.ConclusionBased on serology results, we report widespread exposure to T. gondii infection among pregnant women attending ANC in KCMC. The complex interaction of risk factors for T. gondii infection needs to be studied in larger longitudinal studies.

Serological and molecular screening of umbilical cord blood for Toxoplasma gondii infection

“…The results of UCB serologic testing showed a prevalence of 6% and 36% for anti‐ Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies, respectively. These results are in accordance is with other reported prevalence among pregnant women from Egypt; 30.16% and 33.79% and also from other countries as 40.15% for IgG and 9% for IgM in Northern Tanzania, 41.3% for IgG in Iran, 32.5% for IgG and 6.4% for IgM in Saudi Arabia and 51% for IgG and 0% for IgM in Brazil . Results of PCR was 11% indicating active infection.…”

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Benue state, Nigeria

“…[29][30][31] However, other studies have reported higher seroprevalence in Brazil 77.5%, Columbia 63.5%, Algeria 47.8%, and Tanzania 44.5%. [32][33][34][35] Variations in seroprevalence among different countries could be explained by differences in geographical and climatic conditions, food habits, personal hygiene and management systems of food animals, all of which play important roles in the epidemiology of T. gondii infection.…”

Avaliação funcional de Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) em células trofoblásticas humanas vilosa/extravilosa e em vilos placentários humanos de terceiro trimestre gestacional infectados por Toxoplasma gondii

“…Devido as variações regionais, a toxoplasmose pode chegar a atingir de 10 a 90% da população dependendo de cada região (MAREZE et al, 2019). Estima-se que um terço da população mundial esteja infectada com esse parasito (PAUL et al, 2018). Na América do Norte, no Sudeste Asiático, no norte da Europa e em algumas partes da África foi observada uma baixa soro prevalência, em torno de 10 a 30% da população, em contrapartida foram encontradas moderada ou alta prevalências (30 a 80%) nos países da Europa Central e do Sul, na América Latina e em alguns países africanos, respectivamente (GANGNEUX et al, 2012).…”

“…Na América do Norte, no Sudeste Asiático, no norte da Europa e em algumas partes da África foi observada uma baixa soro prevalência, em torno de 10 a 30% da população, em contrapartida foram encontradas moderada ou alta prevalências (30 a 80%) nos países da Europa Central e do Sul, na América Latina e em alguns países africanos, respectivamente (GANGNEUX et al, 2012). Estudos recentes indicaram que a sorologia positiva para T. gondii é aproximadamente quatro vezes maior no Brasil quando comparada aos Estados Unidos (DUBEY et al, 2012a;FOROUTAN-RAD et al, 2016;PAUL et al, 2018).…”

“…A taxa de prevalência em gestantes pode chegar a 41,8% na Índia, 41% no Irã e 49% na Malásia (PAUL et al, 2018). No Brasil varia em torno de 36 a 92%, sendo considerado uma das maiores em relação à média global (FOROUTAN-RAD et al, 2016).…”