Open AccessAnti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies: Prevalence and Risk Factors among Pregnant Women Accessing Antenatal Care in Some Primary Health Centers in Jos Metropolis, Nigeria
Author(s) -
Ocheme Julius Okojokwu,
Innocent Ajegba Onaji,
Entonu Elijah Entonu,
Bashiru Abubakar,
Maryam Bisola Adebayo,
Nafisa Abduljalil Adamu,
Daniel Idu Ejembi,
Ibrahim Abubakar Yusuf,
A. O. Ogaji,
Murna Ali,
Joseph Anejo-Okopi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of health science research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2456-2688
DOI - 10.7324/jhsr.2021.612
Subject(s) - toxoplasma gondii , toxoplasmosis , medicine , pregnancy , antibody , obstetrics , immunology , biology , genetics
Toxoplasma gondii infection causes high rate of gestational and congenital infection across the globe and is considered a both a public health problem and a neglected disease. The study was carried out to determine the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and the associated risk factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in some Primary Health Centres in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. In this cross-sectional study carried out within 5 months between Jan – May 2019, a total of 182 blood samples were collected from consenting pregnant women. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demography and risk factors. Three millilitres (3 ml) of blood samples were collected from the study participants. Sera were separated from the blood and evaluated for anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies (IgG and IgM) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The data collected from the experiment were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Out of the 182 samples examined, 84 (46.2%) had anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody, 2 (1.1%) had IgM antibody while 98 (53.4%) were neither seropositive for IgG nor IgM. Trimester of pregnancy was significantly associated with prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibody. In conclusion, Toxoplasmosis is prevalent in Jos. Eleven out of every 1000 women (i.e. 1.1%) had recent toxoplasmosis and 53.4% were not protected against primary infection thereby underscoring the need for prevention and control during pregnancy through enlightenment.