Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in women of child-bearing age in central Ethiopia

E.Z. Gebremedhin, A.H. Abebe, T.S. Tessema, K.D. Tullu, G. Medhin, M. Vitale, V. Di Marco, E. Cox, P. Dorny

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    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii infections during pregnancy can result in abortion or congenital defects. Prevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis in women of child-bearing age in Ethiopia are unknown. The current study was conducted with the objectives of estimating the seroprevalence and potential risk factors in acquiring T. gondii infection by women of child-bearing age in Central Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2011 to September 2011. Sera of 425 women were analyzed by indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A questionnaire survey was administered for all study participants to gather information on risk factors. RESULTS: The study revealed that anti- T. gondii IgG antibodies were detected in 81.4% of the samples of which 78.4% were positive for only IgG and 3.06% positive for both IgG and IgM antibodies. Seroprevalence of IgM antibodies to T. gondii (4.0%, 95% CI: 2.14, 5.86) was suggestive of recent infections. Of the 213 pregnant women 9 (4.2 %) were IgM reactive. Out of 17 potential risk factors investigated, univariate logistic regression showed significant association of T. gondii infection with study area, age, pregnancy status, raw vegetable consumption, source of water, presence of cats at home, contact with cats, HIV status and precaution during cats' feces cleaning (P
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalBMC Infectious Diseases
    Volume13
    Pages (from-to)101
    Number of pages9
    ISSN1471-2334
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2013

    Keywords

    • Protozoal diseases
    • Toxoplasmosis
    • Toxoplasma gondii
    • Epidemiology
    • Prevalence
    • Women
    • Pregnancy
    • Children
    • Risk factors
    • Serology
    • ELISA
    • IgG
    • IgM
    • Age
    • Food consumption
    • Drinking water
    • Cats
    • Feces
    • Probabilities
    • Ethiopia
    • Africa-East

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