Seroprevalence and determinants of Toxoplasma gondii among patients attending antenatal and antiretroviral therapy clinics at Kitwe Teaching Hospital, Kitwe, Zambia: a cross-sectional study.

Chibuye, Chisenga; Hankanga, Careen; Mutalange, Matenge; Abu, Yusuf Eshimutu; Siwila, Joyce

doi:10.21608/mid.2024.297636.2002

Seroprevalence and determinants of Toxoplasma gondii among patients attending antenatal and antiretroviral therapy clinics at Kitwe Teaching Hospital, Kitwe, Zambia: a cross-sectional study.

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Kitwe Teaching Hospital, Kitwe, Zambia

² Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

³ Department of Pathology and Microbiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mulungushi University, Livingstone, Zambia

10.21608/mid.2024.297636.2002

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasmosis is caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. Among pregnant women, it can be transmitted vertically to the fetus resulting in clinical outcomes; in HIV/AIDS-infected people T. gondii causes fatal cerebral toxoplasmosis. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and factors of Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women and HIV-infected patients at Kitwe Teaching Hospital. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of women attending Antenatal Clinic (ANC) and patients receiving anti-retroviral therapy (ART). An OnSite Toxo IgG/IgM Combo Rapid Test kit, for simultaneous detection of IgG and IgM antibodies was used to detect antibodies against T. gondii in sera. Additionally, a questionnaire was administered to collect demographic and risk factor information. Results: The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 7.7% (23/300; 95% CI: 4.7 - 10.7) with 4.7% (7/150; 95% CI: 1.3 - 8.1) in pregnant women and 10.7% (16/150; 95% CI: 5.8 – 15.6) in patients on ART. Owning a cat (p=0.046), dog (p=0.02) and contact with soil (p=0.01) were significantly associated with toxoplasmosis in ART subgroup, while for ANC, only owning a cat (p=0.001) was significant. Participants with an income of K5000-K10000 illustrated a 15.49 likelihood of being seropositive while those of lower income showed a 6.87 risk. Patients on ART (4.08%) had IgM and IgG (6.03 %), while participants from ANC only had IgG antibodies. Conclusion: Even though T. gondii seroprevalence was low in both groups, there is need for routine screening of toxoplasmosis among the participants to avoid clinical manifestation of the disease.

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