Toxoplasma Gondii Infection among Pregnant Women in Guangdong Province, Subtropical Southern China

Abstract

Little is known about the prevalence of infection by T. gondii in pregnant women in subtropical Southern China. The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and associated risk factors were investigated in Guangdong province between April 2009 and August 2011. 5006 pregnant women participated in this study. Participants answered survey questions and blood samples were collected from these pregnant women. IgM and IgG antibodies were detected with Enzyme-Linked Immunoadsorbent Assay (ELISA). The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) between anti-IgM, IgG antibodies and relative risk factors were calculated using an association analysis based on unconditional logistic regression. Totally, 0.46% and 7.01% of the pregnant women were found to be positive for T. gondii IgM and IgG antibodies, respectively. Risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in women were: contact with cats [odds ratio (OR) 4.99], consumption of raw or under-cooked wild and domestic animals (rats, rabbits and cats) or pork products (OR 4.08) and two administrative regions of Shaoguan and Zhanjiang with habits of eating non-cooked meat (OR 3.93 and 2.58). No significant relations were observed between anti-Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies and unwashed raw vegetables or fruits, educational level and different age group. This is the first report of seroprevalence and risk factors for T. gondii infection among pregnant women in subtropical southern China. This study provides a basis for the design of successful preventive measures against T.gondii infection in pregnant women.