Toxoplasmosis among Pregnant Women at the Intergrated Health Center in Mahajanga (Madagascar): A Preliminary Study (original) (raw)
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BMC Infectious Diseases, 2017
Background: Toxoplasmosis is a neglected zoonotic disease which is prevalent among pregnant women especially in Africa. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and determinants of the disease among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH). Method: A cross-sectional study was employed where 411 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at UTH were interviewed using closed ended questionnaires. Their blood was also tested for Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using the OnSite Toxo IgG/IgM Combo Rapid test cassettes by CTK Biotech, Inc, USA. Result: The overall seroprevalence of the infection (IgG) was 5.87%. There was no seropositive IgM result. Contact with cats showed 7.81 times the risk of contracting the infection in the pregnant women and being a farmer/being involved in construction work showed 15.5 times likelihood of contracting the infection. Socioeconomic status of the pregnant women also presented an inverse relationship (showed association) with the infection graphically. However, though there were indications of association between contact with cats, employment type as well as socioeconomic status of the pregnant women with the infection, there was not enough evidence to suggest these factors as significant determining factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in our study population. Conclusion: There is a low prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women in Lusaka, Zambia. Screening for the infection among pregnant women can be done once or twice during pregnancy to help protect both mother and child from the disease. Health promotion among women of child bearing age on the subject is of immense importance in order to help curb the situation. Further studies especially that of case-control and cohort studies should be carried out in the country in order to better ascertain the extent of the condition nationwide.
International Journal of Medical Parasitology and Epidemiology Sciences
Introduction: The majority of human infections with Toxoplasmagondii produce no symptoms, but in congenitally infected children can cause devastating effects including blindness, brain damage, or miscarriage. Transmission to the fetus occurs predominantly in women who acquire their primary infection during gestation. The study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) in different areas of Asmara, Eritrea, and to identify possible risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis among pregnant women attending the ANC centers. Methods: In this cross-sectional laboratory-based study, the data were collected from 210 pregnant women in four health facilities. Voluntary sampling technique and a structured questionnaire were used to collect the associated data and socio-demographic information. Cobas e411 Analyzer was used to test the blood serum for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies. Epi-Info version 7.0 w...
2017
Toxoplasma gondii infection during pregnancy can lead to many complications such as abortion, cerebral calcifications, chorioretinitis, and hydrocephalus. In Senegal, toxoplasmosis primary prevention during pregnancy usually refers to prenatal screening of pregnant women, but epidemiological data are needed to help shape human toxoplasmosis prevention policy. This study assessed T. gondii seroprevalence among pregnant women attending the Fann Teaching Hospital in Dakar Senegal. An observational, descriptive study was conducted at the laboratory of parasitology at Fann Teaching Hospital in Dakar. Pregnant woman attending the Fann Teaching Hospital for antenatal visit provided 10 ml of blood collected into a dry container. T. gondii immunoglobin G (IgG) carriage was assessed using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. One thousand two hundred and thirty six (1236) venous blood samples were collected. Overall, 437 samples were positive; T. gondii seroprevalence ...
Int J Infect, 2021
Background: Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite, and is among the diseases generally referred to as neglected tropical disease (NTD). It can be a reason for impulsive abortion in pregnant women or hereditary chorioretinitis in neonates. Objectives: The present study examined seroprevalence and related risk issues of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women (PTW) and non-pregnant females (NPF) of two health facilities in Port Harcourt. Methods: Venous blood was collected from 380 women and analyzed by immunodiagnostic techniques using ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent assay) IgG and IgM tests and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire on the socio-demographic risk issues linked with toxoplasmosis. Results: Among the study population, PTW and NPF had seroprevalence of 33.0% and 19.4%, respectively (P < 0.05). PTW recorded a higher overall seroprevalence than NPF with 16.1%, 1.3%, and 8.4%, 0.8% for Toxoplasma gondii ELISA IgG, and IgM tests, respectively. IgMpositive cases were all authenticated by the real-time PCR technique and were all negative. Age group 35-39 years had the highest IgG seroprevalence of 24.3% for PTW, while the age group > 40 years had the highest IgG seroprevalence of 18.2% for NPF. Traders recorded the uppermost seroprevalence of 20.9% and 2.6% for IgG and IgM among PTW, respectively, while teachers and traders recorded the maximum seroprevalence of 15.6% and 1.7% for IgG and IgM among NPF, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that there was no association between the age group, occupation, trimester, and toxoplasmosis. Conclusions: The toxoplasmosis was significantly high in pregnant women. It is recommended that Toxoplasma gondiitests should be included as a routine test during antenatal. Keywords: Toxoplasma Antibodies, Pregnant Women, Non-pregnant Women, Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis screening and risk factors amongst pregnant females in Natal, northeastern Brazil
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2009
Toxoplasmosis results in systemic disease, and if the mother is infected for the first time during gestation, the fetus may suffer substantial damage. Relatively little is known about the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy in most states of northeastern Brazil. Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant woman was studied in Natal, capital of Rio Grande do Norte State, in northeastern Brazil, from March to December 2007. The sera were tested for IgM and avidity of IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma by a microparticle enzyme immunoassay. The overall seroprevalence was high [126/190 (66.3%)]; prevalence increased with age indicating that in this setting most infections occur in adulthood (third decade of life). Only one pregnant woman was IgM positive and had high-avidity antibodies. The high percentage of pregnant women who are vulnerable to this parasite (33.1%) favors primary infection during pregnancy. Our studies show that direct contact with cats or dogs was highly associated with toxoplasmosis (odds ratio 2.72, P < 0.001, 95% CI 1.46-5.02). The number of years in school (P < 0.001), precarious socioeconomic status and limited knowledge about the disease (P ≤ 0.05 for both) were also associated with toxoplasmosis infection. The pattern of risk factors for infection corroborate other studies in Brazil.
Journal of Parasitology Research, 2022
Background. Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women, is a significant public health problem due to risk of mother to child transmission. The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and corresponding cord blood among women attending Biyem-Assi and CASS Nkoldongo hospitals in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Methods. An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2019 and May 2020 on 300 pregnant women from late second trimester to third trimester. A total of 259 cord blood samples were collected at birth from these women. Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgG and IgM antibodies in maternal and cord blood were detected using the Toxoplasma Enzyme Immunosorbent Assay kit, and potential risk factors captured through questionnaire were identified using binary logistic regression model. Statistical significance was measured at P < 0.05 . Results. The overall seroprevalence of gestational and neonatal toxoplasmosis...
Toxoplasmosis among Pregnant Women in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Annals of Basic and Medical Sciences, 2021
Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy may have serious consequences on the pregnancy outcome. Vertical transmission to the fetus may range from obstetrics complications such as abortion, intrauterine growth restriction, stillbirth to congenital malformations. This review aimed to assess the seroprevalence rate of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Africa so that a proper management policy can be initiated. Four databases that include Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and PubMed were searched for primary studies reported on the prevalence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in African countries. From the search, total of 39 studies were included for the study from 1980 to 2018. Total of 11986 pregnant women were the study participants in the included studies. By using the DerSimonian-Liard random effects method, the pooled prevalence of toxoplasmosis was estimated as 47% (95%CI=38.4% to55.4%). Publication bias was assessed using Egger's test, 2.88 (95%CI= -8.8% to 14.5%) and it did n...
Epidemiologic aspects of toxoplasmosis and evaluation of its seroprevalence in pregnant women
Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical, 2012
INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to analyze the exposure to risk factors for toxoplasmosis disease and the level of knowledge in pregnant women who were treated by the Public Health Care System (SUS) from October 2007 to September 2008 in Divinópolis City, Brazil. METHODS: We analyzed 2,136 prenatal exams of pregnant women that were treated from October 2007 to September 2008. RESULTS: Out of the 2,136 pregnant women evaluated, 200 answered a quantitative questionnaire; 49.5% were seropositive for immunoglobulin (Ig) G and 3.6% for IgM. Comparative analysis of congenital toxoplasmosis cases were evaluated in 11 regions and showed an irregular distribution (p < 0.01). This difference was also observed among the pregnant women observed in each location. The results from the questionnaire show that 93% of the pregnant women had no knowledge about toxoplasmosis, and 24% presented with positive serology, but no clinical manifestation. Analysis for pregnant IgG-positive w...
Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical, 2014
Knowledge of the prevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii dissemination among pregnant women is relevant because the parasite can be spread from mother to infant. The objective of this study was to assess the epidemiology and risk factors of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women from Gurupi, State of Tocantins, Brazil, from February 2012 to June 2013. The study population included 487 pregnant women. Sociodemographic, dietary and cultural data were collected using a standardized and validated form. Peripheral blood was collected for serologic testing using the ELISA test (IgM/IgG antibodies). The data were analyzed by comparing seropositivity with risk factors using crude and adjusted odds ratios. The prevalence rate for IgG and IgM antibodies was 68.7% and 5.7%, respectively. Sociodemographic characteristics associated with toxoplasmosis risk included the following: education level ≤ 8 years (OR: 6.612; CI: 1.450-30.144), age ≥ 30 years (OR: 5.273; CI: 1.166-23.844), working out...
Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women of the Marrakech-Safi region, Morocco
African Health Sciences, 2020
Background: Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection caused by an intracellular protozoan named Toxoplasma gondii. Its prevalence had been investigated in several studies throughout the world showing that it varied from one country to another. In contrast, few studies had been carried out on this infection across the kingdom of Morocco, hence the objective of this work, which is the determination of Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in the region of Marrakech-Safi. Methods: The serological results of a cohort of 5692 patients were reviewed retrospectively. Those patients had been into different public and private medical laboratories in the region of Marrakech-Safi for a toxoplasmosis serology, requested between the 1 st January, 2014 and 31 st December, 2016. According to each laboratory, the techniques adopted for this serology were ELISA (ELFA, MEIA, EIA) and CMIA. Results: The results showed that for pregnant women, the overall seroprevalence in the study region were 28.88%. Conclusion: The variation of Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence is related not only to climatic factors but also to lifestyle, eating habits, socioeconomic status and hygiene conditions. In this study, we noticed that in Morocco, as in other countries, pregnant women encounter several difficulties when serologic screening for toxoplasmosis.