[Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women in Wuxi region]

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women in Wuxi City of Jiangsu Province, so as to provide the evidence for developing the preventive and control interventions of T. gondii infection.

Methods: The anti-Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies were detected by using ELISA in the sera sampled from 3 014 pregnant women from 2011 to 2014, and the pregnant outcomes were followed up. The risk factors of T. gondii infection were identified with questionnaires.

Results: Among the 3 014 pregnant women, 215 cases were found positive to anti-Toxoplasma antibody (7.13%), including 49 cases positive to IgM antibody (49/215, 22.79%), and 166 cases positive to IgG antibody (166/215, 77.21%). The follow-up revealed that 46 T. gondii-infected pregnant women developed adverse pregnant outcomes (46/215, 21.40%), including 35 cases positive to IgM antibody (35/46, 76.09%) and 11 cases positive to IgG antibody (11/ 46, 23.9.1%). Of the 275 pregnant women without T. gondii infection, 7 cases were found to have adverse pregnant outcomes (2.55%) , which was significantly lower than that in T. gondii-infected pregnant women (P < 0.01). The univariate analysis showed that the close contact with animals, liking eating raw meat, liking eating hot pot or barbecue, and tasting raw meat stuffing were important risk factors of T. gondii infection in pregnant women, compared with the uninfected group (all P values < 0.01).

Conclusions: T. gondii infection may lead to adverse pregnant outcomes among pregnant women. Reduction of close contact with animals, development of good diet and hygiene habits and monitoring of T. gondii infection during pregnancy are effective approaches to avoid the development of adverse pregnant outcomes.