Sero-epidemiology of toxoplasmosis amongst pregnant women in the greater Accra region of Ghana

Abstract

SUMMARYObjectives: To investigate Toxoplasma infection among pregnant women in relation to exposure to infection risk, age and pregnancy-related risk factors. Design and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 294 pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic in Accra who consented to participate. Personal and Toxoplasma infection risk related data were obtained by questionnaire interviews. Venous blood was safely drawn from each participant and spun to obtain sera. Each of the 159 randomly selected serum samples was tested for specific anti-Toxoplasma (anti-T. gondii) antibodies IgG, IgA and IgM using a commercial ELISA kit (Calbiotech Inc., CA). ELISA results were correlated with exposure to possible infection risk factors as well as age and pregnancy-related risk factors. Results: The 159 women aged 15-40 years in their first, second and third trimesters, numbered 29, 70 and 60, respectively. An overall anti-T. gondii antibodies IgG, IgA and IgM seroprevalence of 92.5% (147/159) was recorded, with 4.1% (6/147) of them having antiIgG only. The remaining 88.7% (141/159) had antiToxoplasma antibodies IgG, IgA and IgM in various combinations and consisted of 17.7% (25/141) in their first, 44.0% (62/141) in their second, and 38.3% (54/141) in their third, trimesters. Twelve women (7.6%) were seronegative for all 3 antibodies Conclusions: Seroprevalence was high among the women and exposure to contact with cats' faeces was found to be the major T. gondii infection risk factor. Age and pregnancy-related risk factors did not have association with T. gondii infection within the limitations of this study.

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

“…33 This study confirms that contact with cats among our pregnant women has also posed a significant risk factor for Toxoplasma infection. 16,26,34,35 In Thailand, we can find a large number of stray cats roaming the streets, fresh/wet markets, public places, and Buddhist temples in both urban and rural areas. There are not only stray cats that always defecate anywhere but also many owners of an indoor cat that allow their cats to defecate outside their homes; consequently, there is a high chance of T. gondii oocysts contaminating the environment and being transmitted to man.…”

Sero-epidemiology and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women in Arab and African countries

“…In this region, the seroprevalence rate ranged from 53.5 % in the Republic of Benin (Rodier et al 1995) to 92.5 % in Ghana (Ayi et al 2009). A lower prevalence rate was reported from Benin (30.0 %) (De Paschale et al 2014) and Burkina Faso (20.3 %) (Linguissi et al 2012).…”

“…This displacement may perhaps lead to lack of studies and lack of follow-up data on T. gondii in these countries. Generally, the disease is thought to be endemic; a seroprevalence as high as 92.5 % has been reported in the general population (Ayi et al 2009), and fortunately, few pregnant women acquire the infection during pregnancy (Nowakowska et al 2006). In these countries, the burden of T. gondii infection in pregnant women is an under-estimated public health concern.…”

Prevalence of Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Young Iranians: The CASPIAN III Study

“…gondii prevalence in Iran is not as much as the prevalence in countries, such as France, Ghana, and Nigeria (8,9,25,(31)(32)(33).…”

“…The reported seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 71% in France (8,9). Prevalence of T. gondii antibodies was 78% in Nigerian pregnant females (11), 22.5% in the population of United States (24), 92.5% in Ghana (25), 43% in Austria (26), 22.1% in Slovakia (27), 30% in Spain (28), 24.6% in Turkey (29), and 59% in Argentina (30).…”