Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis and associated risk factors in pregnant women at the Protestant Hospital, Mbouo-Bandjoun, Cameroon

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a common worldwide infection caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. In Cameroon, several recent studies have reported high seroprevalence of this parasitosis in various hospitals (Douala, Limbe, Njinikom and Yaoundé). The aim of this study was to determine whether this high prevalence of toxoplasmosis might occur in other regions of the country. Methodology: Serological tests by the indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for IgG and IgM were carried out on 200 pregnant women (36 HIV-positive and 164 HIV-negative) at the Protestant Hospital of Mbouo-Bandjoun in western Cameroon to determine the presence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and to identify the risk factors associated with seropositivity of the subjects. Results: The overall seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies was 45.5%. The prevalence rate was 80.5% in the HIV-positive group (47.2% IgG, 22.2% IgM and 11.1% IgG + IgM) and 37.8% in the HIV-negative group (25.6%, 9.7% and 2.4% respectively). Using a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the secondary level of educational, presence of HIV infection, and frequency of close contacts with cats were significantly associated with the prevalence of IgG and/or IgM antibodies. Conclusion: Compared with previous reports of human toxoplasmosis in Cameroon, the prevalence in our study showed a decrease in the disease occurrence. Further studies are needed to determine whether this decrease is localised to our study or a general phenomenon currently affecting the country.

Seroprevalence of Gestational and Neonatal Toxoplasmosis as well as Risk Factors in Yaoundé, Cameroon

“…In Cameroon, the seroprevalence was similar to a recent (78.6%) study in Douala [ 22 ] and an earlier study in Yaoundé (77.1%). [ 25 ] On the other hand, the seroprevalence obtained in this study is substantially higher than most studies within Cameroon: 54.5% in Njinikom, North West Region, [ 24 ] 70% in Yaoundé [ 23 ], 32.5% in Buea [ 27 ], and 45.5% in Mbouo-Bandjoun, West Region [ 26 ]. Such variations in the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis may be due to differences in geographical locations, characteristics of the pregnant women such as age, educational level, handling of cats, hygiene, and feeding-related practices of toxoplasmosis.…”

“…On the other hand, no significant associations were found between marital, professional, and HIV statuses, history of abortion, gravidity and parity, water source, eating grilled meat, tasting undercooked meat, presence of cats at home or in the neighbourhood, and Toxoplasma antibody seropositivity in the current study. However, some factors were found to be statistically significant in other similar studies: presence of cats at home and history of abortion in Ethiopia [ 47 ], HIV status in West Cameroon [ 26 ], and source of drinking water in Douala, Cameroon [ 23 ].…”

“…Existing reports showed a prevalence of 68.4% in Brazil [ 14 ], 6.4% in South Africa [ 15 ], 42.5% in Malaysia [ 16 ], 36.7% in France [ 17 ], 92.5% in Ghana [ 18 ], 5.87% in Zambia [ 19 ], 30.9% in Tanzania [ 20 ], and 20.3% in Burkina Faso [ 21 ]. In different regions of Cameroon, seroprevalence of over 50% have been reported [ 22 – 25 ], while other regions have had seroprevalence rates of less than 50% [ 26 , 27 ].…”

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM Antibodies and Associated Risk Factors among Pregnant Women Consulted at the Bamenda Regional Hospital, Cameroon

“…This prevalence is similar to that obtained by Nissapatorn, et al [10] in Thailand (23.1%). The seroprevalence obtained in this study is lower than in most studies conducted in Cameroon: 34.5% in the Bamenda Regional Hospital [11], 32.5% in Buea [12], and 45.5% in Mbouo-Bandjoun, Western Region of Cameroon [6]. Such variations in toxoplasmosis seroprevalence may be due to differences in geographical location, characteristics of pregnant women such as age, educational level, cat handling, hygienic and feeding habits.…”

“…Pregnant women who are not immunized (negative serology to IgG and Ig M anti-toxoplasmic antibodies) constitute an important risk group. In Cameroon, recent studies have reported seroprevalences of 45.5% in Mbou'o-Bandjoun [6], 71.8% in Limbe [7], 78.6% in the city of Douala [8] and 80% in the city of Yaoundé [9]. Although toxoplasmosis serology is among the examinations for the first prenatal consultation, pregnant women at the Bamenda regional hospital neglect this examination because of the lack of knowledge about toxoplasmosis and the high cost of this examination.…”