Ambo University, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Department of Veterinary Laboratory Technology, P.O. Box 19, Ambo, Ethiopia.
BMC Infect Dis. 2013 Feb 26;13:101. doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-13-101.
Toxoplasma gondii infections during pregnancy can result in abortion or congenital defects. Prevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis in women of child-bearing age in Ethiopia are unknown. The current study was conducted with the objectives of estimating the seroprevalence and potential risk factors in acquiring T. gondii infection by women of child-bearing age in Central Ethiopia.
A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2011 to September 2011. Sera of 425 women were analyzed by indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A questionnaire survey was administered for all study participants to gather information on risk factors.
The study revealed that anti- T. gondii IgG antibodies were detected in 81.4% of the samples of which 78.4% were positive for only IgG and 3.06% positive for both IgG and IgM antibodies. Seroprevalence of IgM antibodies to T. gondii (4.0%, 95% CI: 2.14, 5.86) was suggestive of recent infections. Of the 213 pregnant women 9 (4.2 %) were IgM reactive. Out of 17 potential risk factors investigated, univariate logistic regression showed significant association of T. gondii infection with study area, age, pregnancy status, raw vegetable consumption, source of water, presence of cats at home, contact with cats, HIV status and precaution during cats' feces cleaning (P ≤ 0.05). The final logistic regression model revealed that: the probability of acquiring T. gondii infection by women of Debre-Zeit was 4.46 times (95% CI of adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.67, 11.89; P =0.003) higher compared to women of Ambo, pregnant women were twice (95% CI aOR: 1.13, 3.59; P = 0.018) more likely to be seropositive than non-pregnant women and women who consume raw vegetable were at increased risk of infection (aOR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.03, 4.78; P = 0.043) than women who didn't consume.
The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in women of child-bearing age in Central Ethiopia is high. Study area, pregnancy and raw vegetable consumption are risk factors to acquire T. gondii infection. Educational program, antenatal screening of pregnant women and further epidemiological studies to uncover the economic and health impact of toxoplasmosis are suggested.
孕妇感染弓形虫可能导致流产或先天缺陷。在埃塞俄比亚，育龄妇女的弓形虫病患病率和危险因素尚不清楚。本研究旨在评估中埃塞俄比亚育龄妇女的弓形虫血清流行率和获得 T. gondii 感染的潜在危险因素。
横断面研究于 2011 年 3 月至 9 月进行。对 425 名妇女的血清进行间接酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）分析。对所有研究参与者进行问卷调查，以收集有关危险因素的信息。
研究表明，81.4%的样本中检测到抗 T. gondii IgG 抗体，其中 78.4%仅 IgG 阳性，3.06% IgG 和 IgM 抗体均阳性。T. gondii IgM 抗体的血清阳性率（4.0%，95%CI：2.14，5.86）提示近期感染。在 213 名孕妇中，有 9 名（4.2%）IgM 反应阳性。在调查的 17 个潜在危险因素中，单变量逻辑回归显示 T. gondii 感染与研究区域、年龄、妊娠状态、食用生蔬菜、水源、家中有猫、接触猫、HIV 状况以及清理猫粪便时的预防措施有关（P≤0.05）。最终的逻辑回归模型显示：与安博妇女相比，德布雷齐特妇女感染 T. gondii 的概率高 4.46 倍（调整优势比[OR]的 95%置信区间[CI]：1.67，11.89；P=0.003），孕妇比非孕妇感染的可能性高两倍（95%CIOR：1.13，3.59；P=0.018），食用生蔬菜的妇女感染的风险增加（OR=2.21，95%CI：1.03，4.78；P=0.043）比不食用生蔬菜的妇女。
中埃塞俄比亚育龄妇女的 T. gondii 感染血清流行率较高。研究区域、妊娠和食用生蔬菜是获得 T. gondii 感染的危险因素。建议开展教育计划、对孕妇进行产前筛查，并进一步开展流行病学研究，以揭示弓形虫病的经济和健康影响。
