Abstract:
Toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii is a primary cause of abortions, disabilities and
neonatal deaths in animals and humans. A cross-sectional study design was carried out from
February to May 2016 to estimate seroprevalence and associated risk factors of T. gondii
infection in sheep in selected districts of Kafa Zone and pregnant women attending ante natal
care at Bonga Hospital, South Western, Ethiopia. Multistage and systematic sampling
techniques were used to collect sera from 400 sheep and 210 pregnant women respectively.
Serum collected was tested for anti T. gondii antibodies by latex agglutination slide test. Risk
factors associated with T. gondii infection in both sheep and pregnant women was assessed
through structured questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis
was used to check association of T. gondii infection with different risk factors using SPSS
version 20. The overall flock and animal level seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep
was 86.25% (95% CI: 78.8-93.8) and 67.25% (95% CI: 62.65-71.85) respectively.
Multivariate analysis revealed that the odds of being seropositive was significantly high in
adult sheep (AOR=1.69; 95% CI: 1.01-2.85; P= 0.050), in female (AOR=1.77; 95% CI: 1.04-
2.99; P= 0.035) and in the presence of cats (AOR=1.74; 95% CI: 1.02-2.95; P= 0.041). The
overall seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in pregnant women was 75.7% (95% CI: 69.9-
81.5). Multivariate analysis indicated that the odds of acquiring T. gondii infection was
significantly high in pregnant women between age range of 36-44 (AOR=2.82; 95% CI:1.2-
7.82; P=0.031), in multigravidae (AOR=3.3; 95% CI:1.36-8.04; P=0.009), in those eating
raw meat (AOR=5.1; 95% CI:2.22-11.68; P≤ 0.001), in those eating raw vegetables
(AOR=5.5; 95% CI:1.03-29.5; P=0.046), in those who have history of abortion (AOR=4.4;
95% CI: 1.10-17.49; P=0.036), in women who drink river/streams water (AOR=5; 95% CI:
1.67-15.44; P=0.004) and in those who didn’t wash their hands after handling of raw meat
(AOR=2.4; 95% CI: 1-5.56; P=0.049). The present result shows high seroprevalence of
Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep and pregnant women. High seroprevalence in sheep is a
good indicator of the potential risk for human infections and therefore, appropriate
preventive measures, mainly public education on identified risk factors and screening of
pregnant women during their antenatal care and further molecular level epidemiological
studies are recommended to reduce associated morbidities and mortalities
