Abstract
BackgroundToxoplasma gondii infection is a great health concern to pregnant women and the developing fetus. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii and its associated factors in Adwa district.MethodsA facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2018 in Adwa district. Structured, a pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect the demographic and risk factor related data. Serum sample, collected from each of the study subjects was tested for IgG and IgM anti T.godii specific antibodies using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. A bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model was applied to show association between the dependent and independent variables considering P < 0.05 and the 95% confidence interval.ResultOut of the 360, 128 (35.6%) pregnant women were found to be positive for antibodies specific to T. gondii. Furthermore, 117 (32.5%) women were positive only for IgG, and 11 (3.1%) were positive both for IgM and IgG antibodies. Age, educational level, habit of hand washing after contact with garden soil or domestic animals, presence of domestic cat, history of contact with domestic dog and consumption of raw vegetables were significantly associated with T. gondii.ConclusionThe seroprevalence of T. gondii among pregnant women in the study area is low compared to the other regions of Ethiopia, and within the range of the seroprevalences in the central and East Africa region. However, efforts should be done to create awareness on the potential risk factors of the parasite in the community.
Highlights
Toxoplasma gondii infection is a great health concern to pregnant women and the developing fetus
Period and design A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2018 in Adwa district, Central zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia, located at a distance of 1006 km from Addis Ababa
Seroprevalence of T. gondii and its associated factors In this study, the serum sample was collected from a total of 360 pregnant women for the serological test, out of this, 128 (35.6%) were found to be positive for antibodies specific to T. gondii
Summary
Toxoplasma gondii infection is a great health concern to pregnant women and the developing fetus. Toxoplasmosis is among the major global zoonotic diseases caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) that infect almost all warm-blooded animals including humans [1]. T. gondii infection causes severe and life threatening consequences in human beings and it is a great health concern to pregnant women and the developing fetus or newborns [7]. Maternal infection of T. gondii is associated with psychiatric disturbances and poor obstetric outcomes including abortion, still birth and psychomotor retardation. Severe fetal disease is associated with the first trimester of maternal infection [10, 11]; an infected fetus may has severe complications such as hearing problems, mental retardation, seizure, Chorioretinitis and hydrocephaly [12,13,14]
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