Predominance of Brucella abortus antibodies among women with spontaneous abortion in the city of Mwanza: unrecognized link or coincidence?

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study investigated the association of Brucella seropositivity and spontaneous abortions in human population in the city of Mwanza, Tanzania.ResultsA comparative cross sectional study which used 148 sera from women with spontaneous abortion and 250 sera from full-term delivered women was conducted in July 2017. Detection of Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis antibodies was done using slide agglutination test. Data were analyzed using STATA version 13 software. The median age of the study participants was 25 (interquartile range 21–30) years. The overall seropositivity of Brucella antibodies was significantly higher among sera from women with spontaneous abortion than full term delivered women; (86/148, 58.1%: 95% CI 50–66 vs. 65/250, 26%: 95% CI 18–33, P < 0.001). Seropositivity of B. abortus was significantly higher among sera from women with spontaneous abortion than full-term delivered women (31.8% vs. 10.8%, P < 0.001). Women with abortion had 3.59 odds of being brucella seropositive compared to full term women (OR: 3.59, 95% CI; 2.25–5.74, P < 0.001). Seropositivity of Brucella antibodies is significantly higher among women with spontaneous abortion than full-term delivered women necessitating a need to investigate the relationship between Brucellosis and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Association of brucellosis to abortions in humans and domestic ruminants in Kagera ecosystem, Tanzania

“…Our results are similar to those reported in Jordan (Abo‐shehada & Abu‐Halaweh, ). However, a study reported differences between brucellosis prevalence in miscarriage and non‐miscarriage cases in Mwanza‐Tanzania (Mujuni et al, ). In this study, there was a high association between the exposure and the positivity to brucellosis (OR = 19; 95% CI = 1.8–203).…”

Infection by Brucella melitensis or Brucella papionis modifies essential physiological functions of human trophoblasts

“…Although suspected, since the initial report of abortion of a farmer's wife in the 1900s (Eyre, ), pregnancy complications in infected women have long been underestimated. However, it is now recognised, with a growing number of epidemiological studies describing increased risks of adverse obstetric outcomes (preterm delivery, spontaneous abortion, fetal death, or low birthweight; Ali et al, ; Alsaif, Dabelah, Featherstone, & Robinson, ; Al‐Tawfiq & Memish, ; Elshamy & Ahmed, ; Giakoumelou et al, ; Gulsun, Aslan, Satici, & Gul, ; Kurdoglu et al, ; Mohammad, El Ghazaly, Zaalouk, Morsy, & El‐Ghazaly, ; Mujuni et al, ; Vilchez, Espinoza, D'Onadio, Saona, & Gotuzzo, ), arguing that brucellosis is a threat for pregnant women. Infection can also be transmitted to the fetus (congenital brucellosis), most probably through transplacental spreading (Alsaif, Dabelah, Girim, Featherstone, & Robinson, ; Aydin et al, ; Giannacopoulos, Eliopoulou, Ziambaras, & Papanastasiou, ; Glocwicz, Stonecipher, & Schulte, ; Koklu et al, ; Mesner et al, ; Poulou, Markou, Xipolitos, & Skandalakis, ; Vilchez et al, ), or to the neonate (neonatal brucellosis), upon exposure to maternal fluids during delivery (Carbajo‐Ferreira, Ochoa‐Sangrador, Canut‐Blasco, & Castaño‐García, ; Singer et al, ).…”

Brucellosis: Prevalence with reference to East African community countries – A rapid review

“…It should, however, be mentioned that a prevalence as high as 58.1% was reported from a study which investigated the association of Brucella seropositivity with abortion for a group of 148 women with spontaneous abortions and 250 women with full‐term deliveries. The group of women with spontaneous abortions had a prevalence of 58.1%, while the group with full‐term deliveries had a prevalence of 26% (Mujuni et al., 2018). A different but also focused study on 250 abattoir workers and meat vendors in the city of Mwanza reported that 48.4% of them were Brucella seropositive (Mirambo et al., 2018).…”

“…Studies on livestock and human brucellosis prevalence in Rwanda in the last decade (2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016)(2017)(2018)(2019) deliveries. The group of women with spontaneous abortions had a prevalence of 58.1%, while the group with full-term deliveries had a prevalence of 26% (Mujuni et al, 2018). A different but also focused study on 250 abattoir workers and meat vendors in the city of Mwanza reported that 48.4% of them were Brucella seropositive (Mirambo et al, 2018).…”