Seroepidemiology ofToxoplasma gondiiamongst Pregnant Women in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background. Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite of worldwide distribution. There is limited information about the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in the southern area of Saudi Arabia. The current study was carried out to determine the prevalence of T. gondii in pregnant women in Jazan province. Materials and Methods. The study was conducted between January and June 2013 and included 195 pregnant women, data on sociodemographic and predisposing factors were collected from each participant. Venous blood samples were collected following standard operating procedures. Serological analysis for latent toxoplasmosis (levels of IgG) and active toxoplasmosis (IgM) was done using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Results. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii in the study area was 24.1%. The seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG was 20% (39 out of 195), whereas IgM seropositivity was 6.2% (12 out of 195). Only 4 pregnant women tested positive for both IgG and IgM. The highest IgG and IgM seroprevalence was among the study participants aged 35 to 39 years (13.5% and 35.1%, resp.). The seropositivity rate of T. gondii-specific antibodies was higher among pregnant women from the urban areas than those from rural communities (7.4% versus 0% and 21% versus 15.4% for IgM and IgG, resp.). Conclusions. The seroprevalence of T. gondii was high in pregnant woman in Jazan. The prevalence of toxoplasmosis increases with increase of age. Awareness health education program in Jazan needs to be maintained and developed to targeted pregnant women.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies among Pregnant Women Attending Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

“…However, there was no significant difference between anti-toxoplasma antibodies and gestational age. This finding is in line with a previous study by Aqeely et al (2014).…”

Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Relation to Pregnancy Characteristics and Bad Obstetric History among Pregnant Women Seeking Healthcare in Sana’a City, Yemen

“…(18,23) In addition, it is lower than the rates reported among pregnant women residing in rural areas (46.2%) and those seeking antenatal care (44.0%) in Taiz. (19,20) On the other hand, it is comparable to that reported among pregnant women from the southern region of Saudi Arabia (20.0%), (24) but it is lower than the rates reported among pregnant women from Palestine (27.9%), (25) Egypt (30.2-67.5%), (26)(27)(28) Iraq (31.5%), (29) Sudan (34.1%), (30) Jordan (47.1%), (31) Tunisia (47.7-58.4%), (32,33) Algeria (47.8%), (34) Morocco (50.6%), (35) different regions of Saudi Arabia (29.4-61.4%), (36)(37)(38)(39)(40) Libya (44.8%), (41) and Kuwait (53.1%). (42) Variations in T. gondii seroprevalence could be attributed to climate conditions, differences in cultural and socioeconomic factors as well as hygienic and feeding habits.…”

Prevalence of Congenital Toxoplasmosis in Pregnant Women with Complicated Pregnancy Outcomes in Assiut Governorate, Egypt

“…As regards to the nearby Arabian countries; the sero-prevalence rate of toxoplasmosis that has been reported in several studies showed also a considerable variation ranging from 20% to 62.2% in these countries and within the same country as well (Aqeely et al, 2014) (Table 3). Moreover, the prevalence of toxoplasmosis was found to be highly variable in different countries worldwide where it ranged from 4.1% to 81.4% based on the geographical region (Gebremedhin et al, 2013).…”