Serological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection in women with adverse pregnancy outcomes in Longhua region, Hebei Province

Abstract

To understand the status of Toxoplasma gondii infection in women with adverse pregnancy outcomes in Longhua region, Hebei Province. A total of 393 women with adverse pregnancy outcomes were chosen as respondents in the Longhua County Maternal and Child Health Care Center between January 2013 and June 2016 and were divided into an acute infection group, a previous infection group, and an active infection group according to the test results. Totally 256 women without adverse pregnancy outcomes were selected as a control group. IgM and IgG antibodies to T. gondii were detected by using ELISA in each group. The risk factors of T. gondii infection were surveyed by questionnaires. The T. gondii infection rate of the women with adverse pregnancy outcomes was 27.23% (107/393), which was significantly higher than 8.20% (21/ 256) in the control group (χ2 = 35.46, P＜0.01). The rates of acute infection, previous infection, active infection in the women with adverse pregnancy outcomes were 6.87% (27/393), 18.58% (73/393), and 2.54% (10/393) respectively, which was significantly higher than those［1.17% (3/256), 7.03% (18/256), 0 (0/256) ］in the control group (χ2 = 11.43, 17.15, 7.90 respectively, P＜0.01). The ratios of the career in contact with raw meat, feeding pets (dog and cat), tasting raw meat, chopping board regardless of uncooked or cooked food, frequently eating rinsing boiler or barbecue, frequently eating outside of the women with T. gondii infection were significantly higher than those of the women without T. gondii infection (χ2 ＝12.08, 29.23, 8.55, 13.41, 7.28, 6.06 respectively, P < 0.01 or 0.05). T. gondii infection could lead to serious adverse pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, to avoid contacting with pets, not eating undercooked food, and strengthening personal health protection are the important keys to avoid T. gondii infection.