Investigation on Toxoplasma gondii infection in reproductive women in Shandong Province

Abstract

To investigate the Toxoplasma gondii infection situation and relative factors in reproductive women in Shandong area, so as to provide the evidences for establishing strategies for reducing the birth defects and improving the quality of population. A total of 5 386 reproductive women who visited hospitals at county and city levels in Shandong region from January 2013 to December 2015 were treated as the research objects, and their venous blood samples were collected to detect the antibodies (IgG and IgM) against T. Gondii in serum. Meanwhile, the related risk factors of T. gondii infection were surveyed by questionnaires. Among the 5 386 reproductive women, 623 ones were positive for IgG antibody and the positive rate was 11.56%, and 328 ones were positive for IgM antibody and the positive rate was 6.21%. The single factor analysis showed that the pregnant status (χ2 = 13.12, P < 0.01), whether the residences were in downtowns or counties (χ2 = 6.27, P < 0.05), whether having animal contact history (χ2 = 10.46, P < 0.01), and whether eating half-baked foods (χ2 = 21.19, P < 0.01) were related to T. gondii infection. The T. gondii infection rate of reproductive women in Shandong Province is high; the related risk factors include pregnant status, residence, degree of intimate contact with animal, and whether eating half-baked foods. It suggests that the detection of T. gondii infection and health education in reproductive women should be strengthened.