Portugal and Angola: similarities and differences inToxoplasma gondiiseroprevalence and risk factors in pregnant women

Abstract

SUMMARYIn this study we determined the presence of IgM/IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in sera of 155 and 300 pregnant women from Lisbon (Portugal) and Luanda (Angola), respectively, and evaluated the potential risk factors associated with this infection. DNA detection was performed by PCR assays targeting T. gondii regions (RE/B1). Overall, 21·9% (10·9% IgG, 10·9% IgG/IgM) of the Lisbon women and 27·3% (23·7%, IgG, 2% IgM, 1·7% IgG/IgM) of the Luanda women had antibodies to T. gondii. Single variable and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. Based on the latter, contacts with cats (family/friends), and having more than two births were identified as risk factors for Toxoplasma infection in Lisbon women. In Luanda, the risk factors for T. gondii infection suggested by the single variable analysis (outdoor contact with cats and consumption of pasteurized milk/dairy products) were not confirmed by binary logistic regression. This study shows original data from Angola, and updated data from Portugal in the study of infection by T. gondii in pregnant women, indicating that the prevalence of antiToxoplasma antibodies is high enough to alert the government health authorities and implement appropriate measures to control this infection.

Serological prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Luanda (Angola): Geospatial distribution and its association with socio-demographic and clinical-obstetric determinants

“…The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in our study was 39.6%, and this relatively high value has been consistently reported by several studies conducted in similar populations [20][21][22][23], even though the prevalence is higher when compared to a previous study performed in Luanda (27.3%) [16]. This difference might be related to the method used in the quantification of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies (Electrochemiluminescence) which has a high sensitivity and specificity.…”

“…In Angola, a country in South West Africa with a population of over 25 million, few studies on toxoplasmosis have been conducted in recent years [14][15][16]. To date, only one study on the prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii in pregnant women has been conducted in Luanda [16] and the prevalence of congenital toxoplasmosis is not known. Also, no research to date has explored the overall seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among women in Angola, nor have the risk factors associated with the infection been examined in a regional context.…”

Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania spp. in domestic cats from Luanda, Angola

“…Only three reports on human T. gondii infection are available from Angola (Martins and Abranches, 1976;López et al, 1992;Lobo et al, 2016), with no data available from animal species other than dogs and now cats (this study). Seroprevalence varied from 71.5% in young people aged 13-16 years old (López et al, 1992) to 27.3% in pregnant women from Luanda (Lobo et al, 2016), complementarily suggesting that 72.7% of women in childbearing age are susceptible to primoinfection by the parasite.…”

“…Seroprevalence varied from 71.5% in young people aged 13-16 years old (López et al, 1992) to 27.3% in pregnant women from Luanda (Lobo et al, 2016), complementarily suggesting that 72.7% of women in childbearing age are susceptible to primoinfection by the parasite. The climate of different geographical locations affects the transmission dynamics of T. gondii in the environment, as oocysts cannot become sporulated, survive and remain infectious without favorable conditions (Dubey, 2010).…”

“…Despite the fact that both parasites have been found to infect humans and dogs in Angola (Sabido et al, 1963;Martins et al, 1976;Jimenez et al, 1994;Caeiro et al, 1998;Vilhena et al, 2014;Lobo et al, 2016), no reports are known on T. gondii and/or Leishmania spp. infections in cats from the country.…”