Analysis of Preventable Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Pregnant Women: Case-Control Study

Evaluation of Awareness, Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Related to Toxoplasmosis Among Females in Algeria

Toxoplasmosis is a major veterinary and public health issue affecting humans and animals, where felids represent the definitive hosts of the causative agent Toxoplasma gondii. While the infections are mostly asymptomatic, the disease could be severe in immune-compromised patients and pregnant women. This study was conducted to evaluate the level of knowledge, practice, and attitude toward this disease among a sample of Algerian women. A cross-sectional poll was conducted between 25 March and 28 August 2024, using a self-administered questionnaire. Results showed that only 53% of the 545 respondents heard of the disease before this survey, and being married increased the odds of awareness (AOR: 3.597 95% CI: 1.598-8.099). Among those who heard of the disease (288 women), 52.7% correct responses were obtained with varied frequencies regarding the mode of transmission and symptoms. The participants were aware of the role of cats as a source of contamination for humans (83.3%) and the common routes of transmission, including contact with cat feces (83.7%) and the consumption of undercooked meat (75%), but the role of unpasteurized milk from infected animals (40.3%), untreated water (35.8%), and blood transfusions (26.4%) was not well understood. The majority of participants ignored symptoms such as skin rashes (29.2%) and swollen lymph nodes (36.5%), as well as sequelae including mental impairment (32.3%) and eyesight issues (35.1%). Results showed also a high rate of appropriate practices and positive attitudes, where 90.3% of the participants said they were in favor of any action that intended to control toxoplasmosis. These results suggest the need to increase the level of awareness of Algerian women regarding this disease.

Household Location (Urban, Peri-Urban and Rural Settlements) as an Associated Risk Factor for Toxoplasmosis during Pregnancy in Southeastern Brazil

BACKGROUND

Brazil has a high prevalence of toxoplasmosis. However, there is a gap in comparing seroprevalence for Toxoplasma gondii across different environments, particularly among pregnant residents of rural and urban areas.

METHODS

The prevalence of IgG and IgM for T. gondii was compared among pregnant residents of the urban, peri-urban, and rural settlement areas in a municipality in southeastern Brazil. Information regarding age and area of residence was compiled from January 2015 to December 2022. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the age and area of residence as risk factors.

RESULTS

A total of 1614 examinations were recorded, revealing 54.0% seropositivity, which was highest in the rural settlement (61.1%), followed by the peri-urban area (55.9%), and lowest in the urban area (49.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of IgG and presence of IgM in pregnant residents of rural, peri-urban, and urban areas highlights the significance of the results obtained for strengthening maternal health programs aimed at preventing toxoplasmosis, regardless of their residence.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies and Associated Risk Factors Among Women in Zakho City, Iraq

Toxoplasmosis, an infectious disease caused by the obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, poses varying degrees of risk, ranging from asymptomatic cases in immunocompetent individuals to severe, life-threatening conditions in immunocompromised individuals and developing fetuses, especially when infection occurs during early pregnancy. While the disease is endemic in Iraq, there is a notable lack of precise information regarding its seroprevalence among females of childbearing age and pregnant women, along with associated risk factors in the Zakho district. This cross-sectional study aimed to address this gap by determining the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using the ELISA assay. The study involved 610 females aged 18-79 years from various residential areas within Zakho district, Iraq. The findings revealed a seroprevalence of 32.46% for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies and 8.86% for IgM antibodies. Significant variations in IgG antibody seroprevalence were observed across different age groups (P=0.008), with the highest prevalence noted among those aged 46-55 years (47.73%). Conversely, IgM antibody seroprevalence, while non-significant (P>0.05), displayed the highest rate of 10.05% among ages 18-25 years. The study identified residence as a variable significantly associated with toxoplasmosis. Additionally, contact with cats, marital status, a history of abortion, and the consumption of homemade food showed significant associations with anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies only. These findings strongly suggest that Toxoplasma gondii is a prevalent causative agent of infection in Zakho city, Iraq. This study contributes valuable insights into the seroprevalence and associated risk factors, providing a foundation for targeted interventions and further research in this region.

Factors Associated with Toxoplasma gondii Seroprevalence in Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study in Belgrade, Serbia

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the cosmopolitan protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, has particular implications during pregnancy due to the possible transmission of infection to the fetus. Very few studies have assessed seroprevalence and the risk factors for toxoplasmosis in healthy pregnant women. The aim of this study was to examine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in healthy pregnant women and to identify the associated risk factors for toxoplasmosis. The cross-sectional study involved 300 healthy pregnant women who came to the Institute for Blood Transfusion in Belgrade between November 2018 and February 2019 for routine blood group and Rh factor testing before delivery, who were also tested using serological screening for the presence of specific antibodies. Positives were further examined using enzyme immunoassay. Of the total sera of participants analyzed, 38 were positive for specific IgG, resulting in a seroprevalence rate of 12.7% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 9.1-17.0%). All pregnant women presented negative anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that living in a house with a garden was independently associated with the risk of T. gondii infections, while eating chicken meat was connected with a lower risk compared to eating other types of meat with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.5 (95% CI 1.21-5.02) and an OR of 0.3 (95% CI 0.09-0.83), respectively. Although the prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies is relatively low, it is essential to maintain and adapt evidence-based preventive measures for toxoplasmosis continually.

Infectious diseases in migrant pregnant women from an area of the Colombian Caribbean

INTRODUCTION

Human migration is an activity that affects society in economic and political aspects and as a social determinant because of its differential impact on individual's health.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the situation of health and infectious diseases of vertical transmission risk in migrant pregnant women from an area of the Colombian Caribbean from 2019 to 2021.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on pregnant irregular migrants in the Riohacha and Santa Marta municipalities in Colombia. Hemogram, uranalysis, toxoplasma, FTA-ABS, VDRL, rubella, hepatitis B, HIV (TORCHs), vaginal swab, basal glycemia, and transaminases, among other paraclinical tests, were done on pregnant women. Data was arranged, tabulated, and analyzed in SPSS v.23.0. A descriptive statistical analysis with measures of central tendency and dispersion for quantitative variables, and proportions analysis was done for qualitative variables.

RESULTS

A total of 555 clinical records were analyzed. Of the infectious agents with a risk of vertical transmission, syphilis was the most frequent with 3.6%. Regarding toxoplasmosis, 2.5% were IgM-positive. 4.2% of the pregnant women had IgG antibodies against Rubella and 2 women showed antibodies against HIV.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results reflect the need for the implementation of educational, prevention, and detection health programs with the aim to decrease the number of prenatal infections in the pregnant migrant population for preventing fatal complications both in mothers and newborns.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic cats, dogs and rabbits from Poland

The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic cats, dogs and rabbits was evaluated. Samples from cats and dogs were collected from five veterinary practices from various parts of Poland - Poznan (wielkopolskie voivodeship), Przemysl (podkarpackie voivodeship), Kluczbork (opolskie voivodeship), Lublin (lubelskie voivodeship) and Deblin (lubelskie voivodeship). Moreover, the samples from rabbits were collected in Poznan. In total, serum samples from 193 cats, 204 dogs and 71 rabbits were randomly selected and tested for specific antibodies against T. gondii using a commercial ELISA test. Pathogen seroprevalence among cats and dogs was calculated at a 95% confidence interval (CI) for each sex and age category (up to 12 months, 1-3 years, 4-7 years and over 8 years) and compared with a chi-squared test. The highest seroprevalence of T. gondii was noted in cats - 49.74% (96/193; 95% CI: 42.76-56.73). In dogs, it reached 28.92% (59/204; 95% CI: 23.13-35.49). Only 1 rabbit (3-year-old male) was seropositive, and the seroprevalence in rabbits was 1.41% (1/71; 95% CI: 0.25-7.56). A statistically significant correlation between seropositivity and age (p < 0.05) was observed in cats and dogs. No statistically significant difference in seroprevalence concerning gender or location was found in cats and dogs. Our findings indicate that cat and dog serum samples had a high frequency of anti-T. gondii antibodies, while rabbit serum samples had low frequency and that these species are exposed to T. gondii in Poland and develop humoral response due to infection.

Toxoplasma gondii Seroprevalence and Trends in Women Presenting for Toxoplasma Screening in South-West Romania

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the obligate intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), is a globally prevalent zoonotic disease with potentially severe implications for immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, and their fetuses/children. This study examined the prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG antibodies in two groups of childbearing age women, including 653 participants in Group 1 (2013-2016) and 3221 participants in Group 2 (2019-2022). Our results revealed a decrease in the overall positivity rate of anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies from 2.32% to 1.06%, suggesting improved public health interventions over time. However, there were variations among different age groups and between rural and urban environments, with a significant decrease in urban areas across all age groups from Group 1 to Group 2. Regarding anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies, we did not observe a significant change in the seropositivity rate between the two groups. In the rural population with an age group over 35 years, we observed the highest positivity rate in Group 2. This study provided information on the risk factors and burden of toxoplasmosis in women of childbearing age with data that can be valuable to public health policies and the planning of healthcare measures for effective toxoplasmosis management.

Congenital toxoplasmosis among hospitalized infants in Poland in the years 2007-2021: study based on the national hospital registry

Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) is a rare entity and it may pose a life-threatening risk for the newborns. The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence and other selected factors of CT in Poland. Our study is a population-based study on CT patients in 2007-2021. The study was based on 1504 hospitalization records of first-time diagnosis of CT in newborns. In the study group, we observed 763 males (50.7%) and 741 females (49.3%). The mean and median age was 31 days and 10 days, respectively. Based on the hospital registry, the mean annual CT incidence was estimated to be 2.6 per 10,000 live births (95% CI 2.0-3.2 per 10,000 live births). The incidence of CT cases fluctuated over the years 2007-2021, with the highest incidence in 2010 and the lowest one in 2014. There were no statistically significant differences between the incidence of CT in relation to sex or place of residence. The periodic fluctuations in the number of cases of congenital toxoplasmosis indicates the need to develop effective prevention programs to effectively counteract the disease and its consequences.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among Pregnant Women in Ardabil, Iran (2021-2022)

Background

Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy can causes adverse outcomes. Regarding its importance in prenatal care, seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women was studied in Ardabil City, during 2021-2022.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study with a cluster sampling, 244 pregnant women that attended in health care centers of Ardabil City, Ardabil Province, Iran in 2021-2022 were selected. Serum samples were collected and Anti-Toxoplasma IgM (immunoglobulin M) and IgG (immunoglobulin G) was detected. Furthermore, a questionnaire filled for all participants during samples collection and risk factors assessed. Data were analyzed by SPSS software.

Results

Participant's age ranged from 16 to 43 years with average of 23± 5.24 years. IgG anti-T. gondii antibody was detected in 22.1% of pregnant women (54/244). In none of participants IgM anti-Toxoplasmosis antibody was detected. There was no significant relationship between demographic variables and risk factors of toxoplasmosis with serology test results.

Conclusion

Approximately, 77.9% of pregnant women had no antibody against the T. gondii infection. Therefore, health education, counseling of pregnant women and screening in high-risk pregnant women is recommended to prevent from fetal complications.

Testing for HIV Increases the Odds of Correct Fetal Ultrasound Result

Introduction: Infectious diseases during pregnancy may pose a threat to both mother and the developing fetus. It also creates an opportunity to screen for diseases being widely underdiagnosed among women in Poland, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or sexually transmitted infections (STI). Therefore, we aimed to assess the number of pregnant women that had not been tested for HIV despite the recommendations. In addition, a comparison of clinical evaluation between HIV-tested and non-tested pregnant women was also performed. Material and methods: Medical records of all consecutive pregnant women, referred to our Infectious Diseases Hospital between September 2019 and March 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Implementation of recommended screening testing towards infectious diseases during pregnancy including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), syphilis, and rubella, were also analyzed. Results: Medical records of 273 women were included in the analysis. The median age was 32 years (interquartile range: 26−33 years). In total 243/273 (89.0%) had been tested for HIV as recommended, and the remaining 30/273 (11.0%) had not been tested. HIV infection was not confirmed in any of the participants. Only one woman within the HIV non-tested group had been correctly tested towards other infections during her pregnancy. The recommended full testing was more likely to be correctly implemented in women who had also been tested for HIV (171/243, 70.4% vs. 1/30, 3.3%, OR 68.9; 95% CI 9.2−515.3, p < 0.00001). Moreover, the correct fetal ultrasound result was more likely to be obtained in women who had been tested for HIV as recommended (234/243, 96.3% vs. 11/30, 36.7%, OR 44.9; 95% CI 16.6−121.8, p < 0.00001). Conclusions: Despite the law regulations, 11% of pregnant women referred to consultations to the infectious diseases center had not been tested for HIV. At the same time, correct fetal ultrasound results are more likely to occur in women tested for HIV according to recommendations. This suggests that a holistic approach to screening, both for communicable and non-communicable diseases, among pregnant women may translate to better pregnancy outcomes.