Tropical Disease Research Center, University of Science and Technology, Sana'a, Yemen.
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen.
Infect Dis Poverty. 2017 Feb 13;6(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s40249-017-0243-0.
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic coccidian parasite causing morbidity and mortality. In Yemen, T. gondii infection has been reported among pregnant women seeking healthcare in the main cities. However, no data are available on the prevalence of T. gondii infection and its associated risk factors among pregnant women in the rural communities of the country. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii and identify its risk factors among pregnant women in the rural communities of Taiz governorate, Yemen.
A total of 359 pregnant women living in the rural communities of Taiz governorate were enrolled in this study by house-to-house visits. Data were collected using a pre-designed questionnaire, and blood samples were collected and tested for the detection of anti- T. gondii IgM and IgG antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
The prevalence of T. gondii infection among pregnant women in this study was 46.2% (166/359). Bivariate analysis identified the age of ≥ 30 years (odds ratio [OR] = 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09-2.65, P = 0.019) and unimproved water sources (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.10-4.55, P = 0.023) as factors associated with T. gondii infection among pregnant women. The multivariable analysis, however, identified unimproved water sources as an independent risk factor (adjusted OR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.16-5.0, P = 0.018) associated with T. gondii infection among pregnant women.
Pregnant women in the rural communities of Taiz, Yemen are at high risk of contracting T. gondii infection. Unimproved water sources (wells, water streams and water tanks) are significantly associated with T. gondii infection and should be considered in prevention and control strategies, especially among pregnant women.
刚地弓形虫是一种引起发病和死亡的动物源性肉孢子虫寄生虫。在也门，在主要城市寻求医疗保健的孕妇中已经报告了刚地弓形虫感染。然而，关于该国农村社区孕妇中刚地弓形虫感染的流行率及其相关危险因素，尚无数据。因此，本研究旨在确定也门塔伊兹省农村社区孕妇中刚地弓形虫的血清流行率，并确定其危险因素。
通过挨家挨户的访问，共招募了 359 名居住在塔伊兹省农村社区的孕妇参加本研究。使用预先设计的问卷收集数据，并采集血样，通过酶联免疫吸附试验检测抗刚地弓形虫 IgM 和 IgG 抗体。
本研究中孕妇的刚地弓形虫感染率为 46.2%（166/359）。单因素分析发现年龄≥30 岁（比值比[OR] = 1.7；95%置信区间[CI] = 1.09-2.65，P = 0.019）和未改善的水源（OR = 2.2；95% CI = 1.10-4.55，P = 0.023）是孕妇感染刚地弓形虫的相关因素。然而，多变量分析发现未改善的水源是孕妇感染刚地弓形虫的独立危险因素（调整后的 OR = 2.4；95% CI = 1.16-5.0，P = 0.018）。
也门塔伊兹省农村社区的孕妇感染刚地弓形虫的风险很高。未改善的水源（水井、水流和水箱）与刚地弓形虫感染显著相关，应在预防和控制策略中加以考虑，尤其是在孕妇中。
