Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women in Jimma Town, South-West Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a very common infection in human caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Humans become infected mainly by ingesting T. gondii tissue cysts present in undercooked meat, ingesting infectious oocysts present in water and garden soil contaminated by infected cat feces or through congenital transplacental transmission. About one third of primary Toxoplasmosis cases occurring during pregnancy lead to congenital Toxoplasmosis with consequent pathological effects. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii among pregnant women and assess the associated risk factors. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 4 -29, 2011 among pregnant women in Jimma Town. Venous blood specimens were collected from 201 pregnant women in 5 kebeles of the town and tested for IgM and IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies by ELISA (Human Gesellschaft für Biochemica und Diagnostica mbH) according to manufacturer’s instruction. Findings: The overall seroprevalence of T.gondii among the pregnant women was 83.6% (95% CI, 78.5 – 88.7%). One hundred sixty three (81.1%) of the pregnant women were IgG anti -T. gondii seropositive and five of the 33 pregnant women seronegative for IgG anti-T. gondii antibody were seropositive for IgM anti-T. gondii antibody. Among the risk factors and sociodemographic characteristics assessed, age group and presence of domestic cats at home (AOR = 6.7, 95%CI =2.2 20.3) were significantly associated with anti-T. gondii seropositivity. Habit of eating raw meat, occupation, contact with soil and other socio-demographic factors did not show significant association with anti-T. gondii seropositivity. Recommendation: Health information on the disease, its transmission and risk factors is recommended to be given to women of reproductive age group and policy makers should consider test for T. gondii infection during pregnancy to prevent the tragic outcome of congenital toxoplasmosis.