Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Pregnant Women: Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Yeri Esther Hien^1, , P. Denise Ilboudo², Kima Donatien¹, Gandre Dramane¹, Henry S. Rokiatou³, Moussa Sawadogo⁴, Serge Sawadogo⁵, Elie Kabre³, Aly Savadogo¹ and Yves Traore¹

¹Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, UFR/SVT, Laboratoire de Biochimie et d’Immunologie Appliquée (LaBIA), 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou 03, Burkina Faso

²Université de Fada N’Gourma, BP 54, Fada N'Gourma, Burkina Faso

³Laboratoire National de Santé Publique (LNSP) 09 BP 24 Boulevard des Tensoba - Secteur 30 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

⁴Centre Hospitalier Protestant Shiffra, 01 Bp 121 Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso

⁵Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, UFR/SDS, 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou 03, Burkina Faso

Cite this paper:
Yeri Esther Hien, P. Denise Ilboudo, Kima Donatien, Gandre Dramane, Henry S. Rokiatou, Moussa Sawadogo, Serge Sawadogo, Elie Kabre, Aly Savadogo and Yves Traore. Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Pregnant Women: Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology. 2021; 9(3):83-89. doi: 10.12691/ajidm-9-3-2

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection can lead to abortion in pregnant women. Unfortunately, very limited information is available concerning the seroprevalence and associated risk factors in pregnant women in Burkina Faso. Therefore, the present study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii among pregnant women attending for antenatal care. A cross-sectional study was conducted containing 579 pregnant in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Serological patterns were assessed by enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay and the study utilized univariate analysis to identify the potential risk factors for T. gondii infection. Of the 579 pregnant women investigated, 29.71% were tested as T. gondii-seropositive, with 25.91% seropositive for T. gondii IgG antibodies, 1.9% positive for IgM and 1.9% positive for both IgM and IgG. We found firstly that pregnant women consuming unpasteurized cow's milk had a significantly higher seroprevalence than individuals who did not consuming (30.15% vs 06.67%; p=0.0039). Then, age was associated with an increased risk of being seropositive for T. gondii, seroprevalence increases significantly with age, ranging from 18% for 15-25 year olds to 45% for those over 35 years old, p<0.001. Finally, we found that pregnancy number and living children number were associated with an increased risk of being seropositive for T. gondii (p=0.0065 and 0.023, respectively). The other risk factors like contact with soil, drinking water source, contact with cats and eating some under-cooked meat were not significantly associated with T. gondii infection. Altogether, our study showed that seroprevalence of T. gondii was mainly related to consumption of unpasteurized cow's milk, to patient age, to the number of pregnancies and to living children. The findings will provide key and baseline data for prevention and control of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women and other people.

Keywords:
Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence risk factors pregnant women ouagadougou Burkina Faso

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