Abstract
BackgroundToxoplasma gondii infection can lead to severe disease outcomes in immune-compromised people. This study sought to determine the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies among pregnant women, hospitalized children (<5 years old) and HIV-seropositive persons in Accra.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in two hospitals in Accra, and a total of 450 voluntary participants were recruited for the study consisting of 125 pregnant women, 200 children and 125 HIV-seropositive persons. Serum was obtained from venous blood safely drawn from each participant and tested for specific anti-Toxoplasma antibodies IgG and IgM by ELISA. A serological criterion for seropositivity was a positive test result for any of the two anti-Toxoplasma antibodies or a combination of both. Questionnaire interviews were conducted to obtain personal information and Toxoplasma infection risk-related data.ResultsThose who tested seropositive for anti-T. gondii antibodies were 51.2 % (64/125) pregnant women, 58.0 % (116/200) children and 57.6 % (72/125) HIV patients. The major risk factors associated with anti-T. gondii seropositivity were identified as age (in children), handling raw meat and gravida status (in pregnant women). The results of this study confirmed that the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection is high among pregnant women, hospitalized children <5 years old and HIV patients.ConclusionsA further study to investigate pre-pregnancy infections with T. gondii among women of childbearing age, seroconversion rate in pregnant women, rate of mother-to-child transmission and reactivated infections among HIV-seropositive persons is recommended.
Highlights
Toxoplasma gondii infection can lead to severe disease outcomes in immune-compromised people
Persons at risk of acquiring toxoplasmosis as an opportunistic disease usually are immune-compromised or immune-suppressed persons [10] due to the ability of the parasite to be reactivated from encysted bradyzoites to circulating tachyzoites [11]
Study population The study population consisted of pregnant women aged >18 years attending ante-natal clinic, male and female Outpatient Department attendees of the Fevers Unit, aged above 18 years who were HIV-seropositive and not yet started treatment with antiretroviral therapy and all at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) as well as children of both sexes aged
Summary
Toxoplasma gondii infection can lead to severe disease outcomes in immune-compromised people. Toxoplasmosis is one of the world’s most common parasitic infections caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a ubiquitous intracellular protozoan parasite of warm-blooded animals [1,2,3]. Toxoplasmosis is a self-limiting disease with the parasite encysting after few weeks of infection, but reactivation of infection may occur even in Seroepidemiological surveys have revealed varying degree of prevalence in terms of different geographical settings and the risk factors for acquiring the disease [6]. Persons at risk of acquiring toxoplasmosis as an opportunistic disease usually are immune-compromised or immune-suppressed persons [10] due to the ability of the parasite to be reactivated from encysted bradyzoites to circulating tachyzoites [11].
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