Prevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> specific 

immunoglobulin G antibodies among pregnant women in Norway

Jenum, Pål A.; Kapperud, Georg; Stray‐Pedersen, Babill; Melby, K; Eskild, Anne; Eng, Jan

doi:10.1017/s0950268897008480

Cited by 65 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Pregnant women who had more than two children were more exposed to toxoplasmosis in this study. Similar findings have been reported in several studies [5,22,23]. However, multiparity, which increases the prevalence of toxoplasmosis, is still unknown [5].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women in Yemen: Factors associated with high seroprevalence

Al-Eryani

Al-Mekhlafi

Al-Shibani

et al. 2016

J Infect Dev Ctries

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Introduction: Although toxoplasmosis is an important public health problem, there is scarcity of data on the disease available from Yemen. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in health facilities to determine seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and associated risk factors among pregnant women in Sana'a, the capital city of Yemen. Methodology: A total of 593 pregnant women were included and examined for anti-T. gondii antibodies (Ab) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Bio and socio-demographic data were collected by pre-tested structured questionnaires through face-to-face interviews. Results: The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 45.4% (95% confidence interval: 41%-49%). The prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM was 43.7 (95% CI: 40-%48%) and 9.1% (95% CI: 7%-12%), respectively. About 7.4 (95% CI: 6%-10%) of pregnant women were seropositive for both IgG and IgM Abs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the following risk factors for toxplasmosis (IgG and/or IgM): age ≥ 25 years (adjusted OR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.44-2.84, p < 0.001), rearing cats in the house (OR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.20-2.55, p = 0.004), and contact with soil (OR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.32-2.75, p = 0.001). Conclusions: The study reported high seroprevalence among pregnant women in Sana'a, Yemen, with a high proportion of pregnant women having a possibility of acute toxoplasmosis. This highlights the need for including routine screening for T. gondii in pregnant women in the country's antenatal clinics. In addition, health education on the mode of transmission of toxoplasmosis should be provided for pregnant women in Yemen.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women in Yemen: Factors associated with high seroprevalence

Al-Eryani

Al-Mekhlafi

Al-Shibani

et al. 2016

J Infect Dev Ctries

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“…20,27,31,32 This is the first of its kind, to our knowledge, reported in Thailand and the number of children that have contributed to the increasing Toxoplasma prevalence in women is unknown. Possible explanations for this problem are that women with children are more likely to have contact with plausible risk factors to Toxoplasma acquisition or they are careless when preparing food that can lead to contamination 32 or because their children have more contact with stray cats. Nevertheless, an earlier study stated that children have not been identified as an independent risk for prevalence of Toxoplasma .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Toxoplasmosis-Serological Evidence and Associated Risk Factors among Pregnant Women in Southern Thailand

Nissapatorn

Suwanrath²,

Sawangjaroen³

et al. 2011

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Toxoplasma gondii is an important parasite in pregnant women. This case-controlled study assessed the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in 640 pregnant women in southern Thailand and identified their associated risk factors. The overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 181 (28.3%). Of this, 138 (21.6%) were positive for only anti-Toxoplasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody, 43 (6.7%) were positive for both IgG and IgM antibodies, and none were positive for IgM antibody. Multivariate analysis revealed that increasing age (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01–2.67), living outside Songkhla province (adjusted OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.08–2.24), parity (adjusted OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.01–2.68), contact with cats (adjusted OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.20–2.43), and drinking of unclean water (adjusted OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.08–2.68) were factors associated with Toxoplasma seroprevalence. On the basis of the results obtained, a health surveillance program should be initiated as a primary preventive measure for congenital toxoplasmosis and focus on educating women of the child-bearing age group to avoid contact with cats and to strictly practice personal hygiene.

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“…The prevalence of previous toxoplasma infection in pregnant women ranges from 10% in the United Kingdom 10 and Norway 11 to around 55% in France 12 and Greece 13 ; in many countries it has declined sharply over the past three decades. [14][15][16] Regional variation has been attributed to climate, 11 cultural differences in the amount and type of raw meat consumed, 7 17 and the increased consumption of meat from animals farmed indoors and frozen meat.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sources of toxoplasma infection in pregnant women: European multicentre case-control study Commentary: Congenital toxoplasmosis---further thought for food

Cook

2000

BMJ

915

575

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Objective To determine the odds ratio and population attributable fraction associated with food and environmental risk factors for acute toxoplasmosis in pregnancy. Design Case-control study. Setting Six large European cities. Participants Pregnant women with acute infection (cases) detected by seroconversion or positive for anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM were compared with pregnant women seronegative for toxoplasma (controls). Main outcome measures Odds ratios for acute infection adjusted for confounding variables; the population attributable fraction for risk factors. Results Risk factors most strongly predictive of acute infection in pregnant women were eating undercooked lamb, beef, or game, contact with soil, and travel outside Europe and the United States and Canada. Contact with cats was not a risk factor. Between 30% and 63% of infections in different centres were attributed to consumption of undercooked or cured meat products and 6% to 17% to soil contact. Conclusions Inadequately cooked or cured meat is the main risk factor for infection with toxoplasma in all centres. Preventive strategies should aim to reduce prevalence of infection in meat, improve labelling of meat according to farming and processing methods, and improve the quality and consistency of health information given to pregnant women. IntroductionIn Europe, congenital toxoplasmosis affects between 1 and 10 in 10 000 newborn babies, 1 of whom 1% to 2% develop learning difficulties or die and 4% to 27% develop retinochoroidal lesions leading to permanent unilateral impairment of vision.2-6 Effective prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis depends on avoidance of infection during pregnancy. Infection is acquired by ingestion of viable tissue cysts in meat or oocysts excreted by cats that contaminate the environment. Uncertainty about how most women acquire infection results in advice to avoid numerous risk factors, making compliance difficult.8 9 Development of more focused strategies requires up to date and regionally relevant information on the principal sources of infection during pregnancy.The prevalence of previous toxoplasma infection in pregnant women ranges from 10% in the United Kingdom 10 and Norway 11 to around 55% in France 12 and Greece 13; in many countries it has declined sharply over the past three decades.14-16 Regional variation has been attributed to climate, 11 cultural differences in the amount and type of raw meat consumed, 7 17 and the increased consumption of meat from animals farmed indoors and frozen meat. 7 18 The decline in prevalence of infection, however, does not necessarily reflect a fall in the incidence of toxoplasmosis acquired during pregnancy. Instead, the decline in prevalence in pregnant women probably reflects a decline in incidence during childhood. 15More women are susceptible to infection now, and the frequency of exposure to risk factors for infection may have increased. Recent changes include a shift from consumption of beef to pork and poultry and increased consumption of organic meat and "val...

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Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii specific immunoglobulin G antibodies among pregnant women in Norway

Cited by 65 publications

References 24 publications

Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women in Yemen: Factors associated with high seroprevalence

Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women in Yemen: Factors associated with high seroprevalence

Toxoplasmosis-Serological Evidence and Associated Risk Factors among Pregnant Women in Southern Thailand

Sources of toxoplasma infection in pregnant women: European multicentre case-control study Commentary: Congenital toxoplasmosis---further thought for food

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