Seroprevalence and Risk of Toxoplasma gondii Infection among Pregnant Women at Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, Nigeria
F. M. Ballah *
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
B. V. Maikai
Department of Veterinary Public Health, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
A. A. Magaji
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
A. B. Shuaibu
Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
A. U. El-Nafaty
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Y. T. Sambo
Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, Nigeria
A. A. Auwal
Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, Nigeria
H. U. Faruk
Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, Nigeria
F. Suleiman
Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Numerous studies have been published on Toxoplasma gondii infection, but no studies have been conducted on toxoplasmosis in the study area. Blood samples were obtained from pregnant women and sera were assayed using Toxoplasma kit (ToxG-046) and 112 out of the 400 women were positive with an overall prevalence of 28%. The highest prevalence was recorded among those in second trimester 57(33.5%), those within the age group of 0-19 years (<20 years) 74(52.86%) and also those that owned cats 50(55.6%). There was a significant association between the prevalence of T. gondii antibodies (IgG) with trimester, age and cat ownership.
Keywords: Seroprevalence, infection, pregnant women, Gombe