Abstract
BackgroundToxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence and assess the potential risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infections in animals and humans in Ethiopia by using meta-analytical methods.MethodsPublished studies on T. gondii in animals and humans in Ethiopia were searched in Medline, Google Scholar and the lists of references of articles. Eligible studies were selected by using inclusion and exclusion criteria. The risks of within and across study biases, and the variations in prevalence estimates attributable to heterogeneities were assessed. Pooled prevalence was estimated by the DerSimonian and Laird random effects model.ResultsThirty two studies were eligible and data from 5689 animals and 5718 humans were used for quantitative syntheses. The pooled IgG seroprevalence in cats, small ruminants and humans were estimated at 87.72 % (95 % CI = 78.63, 93.28), 34.59 % (95 % CI = 21.08, 51.12) and 74.73 % (95 % CI = 61.85, 84.36), respectively. The odds of infections were higher in pregnant than in non pregnant women (OR = 3.96), in individuals that had contact with cats than those with no contact (OR = 2.53), and in urban than in rural inhabitants (OR = 2.06).ConclusionsToxoplasmosis is highly prevalent and could be a cause of considerable reproductive wastage in small ruminants and multiple diseases in humans in Ethiopia. Public education on preventive measures could help reduce the transmission of the parasite to humans.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0901-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Of the studies screened for eligibility, 12 were excluded due to the following reasons: one was not available; two were abstracts; the sample size was 20 in one; the data was inconsistent in one; the diagnosis was established on the basis of clinical signs in one; IHAT was used in three, and the methods were not described in three studies
All studies on humans were cross-sectional and IgG seroprevalence was examined by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), latex agglutination test (LAT), SFDT and modified direct agglutination test (MDAT)
The funnel plots (Fig. 2) and the bias coefficients in both food animal [b = 0.54, and human [b = 5.45 studies did not suggest the presence of bias, and no theoretical missing study was incorporated by the Duval and Tweedie non-parametric method
Summary
The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence and assess the potential risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infections in animals and humans in Ethiopia by using meta-analytical methods. Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread zoonotic parasite that infects all warm-blooded animals and humans [1]. Despite T.gondii being an important zoonotic pathogen, there is no national survey that addressed the multiple disorders it causes in humans, its impact in animal production, its temporal and spatial distribution and the risk factors associated with the occurrence of the disease in Ethiopia. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of T. gondii infection in cats, food animals and humans in Ethiopia, and assess the potential risk factors of infection
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