Toxoplasmosis: prevalence and risk factors

Abstract

A total of 200 pregnant women were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women was found to be 49%, in which 39%, 4% and 6% for anti-Toxoplasma IgG, IgM and both anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. We found the differences in Toxoplasma seroprevalence rates among the races were significant: the highest rate was in the Malays (55.7%), followed by the Indian (55.3%) and the Chinese (19.4%) (P<0.05) populations. An increase in Toxoplasma seroprevalence with increasing parity was detected (P<0.05). Women with no children had a prevalence of 39.7%, while women with one or more than two children had a prevalence of 44.2% and 62.9%, respectively. In this study, there was no significant association between Toxoplasma seroprevalence and various possible risk factors in pregnant women (P>0.05). When multivariate analysis was performed, no significant association between Toxoplasma seroprevalence and history of contact with cats, consumption of undercooked meat and blood transfusion was found (P>0.05). We did not find any newly diagnosed cases of acute acquired toxoplasmosis in pregnancy during the study period.

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

“…It was of interest that Toxoplasma infection is more likely to occur in women who had multiparity. 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.…”

“…To our surprise, this is the first time IgG avidity has been introduced for the routine screening of Toxoplasma infection among pregnant women in Thailand and in our neighboring Southeast Asian countries. 15,17,20 From this study, we can ensure that IgG avidity is a confirmatory test to differentiate between recently acquired and past infections, and it is useful to exclude acquired infection within the last 4 to 5 months. 22,23 Moreover, IgG avidity can assist during the first trimester of pregnancy when recent maternal infection reveals low IgG avidity to indicate a high risk of congenital infection.…”

“…This is also a higher rate than reported from other Asian countries, including rates of 3.7% in Korea, 14 7.7% in Vietnam, 15 10.6% in China, 16 and 17.2% in Singapore. 17 In general, the Toxoplasma prevalence rate remains high in many parts of the world, e.g., 40.8% in Nigeria, 18 48.6% in Albania, 19 49% in Malaysia, 20 and 68.6% in Brazil. 21 This increasing number of Toxoplasma serostatus further highlights the need for routine screening in women during the childbearing age, particularly from endemic areas of toxoplasmosis, and to monitor the trend of Toxoplasma infections.…”

Seroprevalence and Sources of Toxoplasmosis among Orang Asli (Indigenous) Communities in Peninsular Malaysia

“…4 In Malaysia, the prevalence rate of toxoplasmosis in the general population was reported to be at 28.1% in 2002. 5 Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among HIV/AIDS patients was higher, with rates recorded at 51.2% ( N = 406) 6 and 44.8% ( N = 505). 7 However, information on toxoplasmosis among the indigenous groups in Peninsular Malaysia has been very limited.…”

A Comparative Analysis of Coprologic Diagnostic Methods for Detection of Toxoplama gondii in Cats

“…7 Serum antibody measurement by using various serologic tests is now commonplace for determining past exposure. Foci of high human seroprevalence exist in Latin America (77% in Brazil), 8 parts of eastern and central Europe (57.6% in Romania), 9 the Middle East (63.9% in Iran), 10 parts of southeast Asia (49% in Malaysia), 11 and Africa (60% in Côte d'Ivoire). 12 However, a trend towards a lower seroprevalence is observed in many countries in Europe (8.2% in Switzerland) 13 and in the United States (14% in 1988 and 9% in 2004).…”