Particularly neglected in countries with other challenges: High Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in pregnant women in Kabul, Afghanistan, while a low proportion know about the parasite.
Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease of global importance. It is widespread and endemic practically all over the world, with infection prevalence varying by geographic location. The parasite and the disease are neglected, which is illustrated by the lack of baseline information on the preva...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2019-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223585 |
| _version_ | 1819147167015632896 |
|---|---|
| author | Sayed Hussain Mosawi Zahra Zarghona Abdolhossein Dalimi Pikka Jokelainen Ahmad Hosseini Safa Mohammad Reza Mohammadi Erfan Javanmardi Mohammad Baqer Basirat |
| author_facet | Sayed Hussain Mosawi Zahra Zarghona Abdolhossein Dalimi Pikka Jokelainen Ahmad Hosseini Safa Mohammad Reza Mohammadi Erfan Javanmardi Mohammad Baqer Basirat |
| author_sort | Sayed Hussain Mosawi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease of global importance. It is widespread and endemic practically all over the world, with infection prevalence varying by geographic location. The parasite and the disease are neglected, which is illustrated by the lack of baseline information on the prevalence from many regions. Developed, peaceful regions are in better situation to address toxoplasmosis, while the neglected status is particularly pronounced in regions with other challenges. Due to the lack of baseline data, these regions are rarely mentioned in discussions about the neglected status of the disease. A dramatic manifestation of toxoplasmosis, congenital toxoplasmosis, is the dreaded outcome of vertical transmission of the infection from the mother to the unborn child. For this reason, pregnant women are a key target group for primary prevention of T. gondii infections, and baseline data on the prevalence in pregnant women is important. In this cross-sectional seroepidemiological study, we estimated Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence and evaluated possible risk factors for seropositivity in pregnant women in Kabul, Afghanistan. Altogether 207 of the 431 women included in the study tested positive for immunoglobulin G antibodies against T. gondii, yielding an apparent seroprevalence estimate of 48.03% (95% CI 43.33-52.75). Based on the final multivariable model for T. gondii seropositivity, non-concrete floor in the house and well or river as water source were identified as risk factors for seropositivity, while residence in rural area was a protective factor. The majority of the participants (72.9%) reported that they did not know about T. gondii. Our study is the first to report an estimate of T. gondii seroprevalence in pregnant women in Afghanistan. The high seroprevalence indicates substantial infection pressure, and the results of the risk factor analysis suggest that the environmental route, infection from oocysts, might be the most relevant to address to prevent the infections in the region. Our results contribute to the global discussion on neglected status of toxoplasmosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T13:25:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-df47aa9b3d784046b46f2eaefa25e315 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T13:25:30Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-df47aa9b3d784046b46f2eaefa25e3152022-12-21T18:24:19ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032019-01-011410e022358510.1371/journal.pone.0223585Particularly neglected in countries with other challenges: High Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in pregnant women in Kabul, Afghanistan, while a low proportion know about the parasite.Sayed Hussain MosawiZahra ZarghonaAbdolhossein DalimiPikka JokelainenAhmad Hosseini SafaMohammad Reza MohammadiErfan JavanmardiMohammad Baqer BasiratToxoplasmosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease of global importance. It is widespread and endemic practically all over the world, with infection prevalence varying by geographic location. The parasite and the disease are neglected, which is illustrated by the lack of baseline information on the prevalence from many regions. Developed, peaceful regions are in better situation to address toxoplasmosis, while the neglected status is particularly pronounced in regions with other challenges. Due to the lack of baseline data, these regions are rarely mentioned in discussions about the neglected status of the disease. A dramatic manifestation of toxoplasmosis, congenital toxoplasmosis, is the dreaded outcome of vertical transmission of the infection from the mother to the unborn child. For this reason, pregnant women are a key target group for primary prevention of T. gondii infections, and baseline data on the prevalence in pregnant women is important. In this cross-sectional seroepidemiological study, we estimated Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence and evaluated possible risk factors for seropositivity in pregnant women in Kabul, Afghanistan. Altogether 207 of the 431 women included in the study tested positive for immunoglobulin G antibodies against T. gondii, yielding an apparent seroprevalence estimate of 48.03% (95% CI 43.33-52.75). Based on the final multivariable model for T. gondii seropositivity, non-concrete floor in the house and well or river as water source were identified as risk factors for seropositivity, while residence in rural area was a protective factor. The majority of the participants (72.9%) reported that they did not know about T. gondii. Our study is the first to report an estimate of T. gondii seroprevalence in pregnant women in Afghanistan. The high seroprevalence indicates substantial infection pressure, and the results of the risk factor analysis suggest that the environmental route, infection from oocysts, might be the most relevant to address to prevent the infections in the region. Our results contribute to the global discussion on neglected status of toxoplasmosis.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223585 |
| spellingShingle | Sayed Hussain Mosawi Zahra Zarghona Abdolhossein Dalimi Pikka Jokelainen Ahmad Hosseini Safa Mohammad Reza Mohammadi Erfan Javanmardi Mohammad Baqer Basirat Particularly neglected in countries with other challenges: High Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in pregnant women in Kabul, Afghanistan, while a low proportion know about the parasite. PLoS ONE |
| title | Particularly neglected in countries with other challenges: High Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in pregnant women in Kabul, Afghanistan, while a low proportion know about the parasite. |
| title_full | Particularly neglected in countries with other challenges: High Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in pregnant women in Kabul, Afghanistan, while a low proportion know about the parasite. |
| title_fullStr | Particularly neglected in countries with other challenges: High Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in pregnant women in Kabul, Afghanistan, while a low proportion know about the parasite. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Particularly neglected in countries with other challenges: High Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in pregnant women in Kabul, Afghanistan, while a low proportion know about the parasite. |
| title_short | Particularly neglected in countries with other challenges: High Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in pregnant women in Kabul, Afghanistan, while a low proportion know about the parasite. |
| title_sort | particularly neglected in countries with other challenges high toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in pregnant women in kabul afghanistan while a low proportion know about the parasite |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223585 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sayedhussainmosawi particularlyneglectedincountrieswithotherchallengeshightoxoplasmagondiiseroprevalenceinpregnantwomeninkabulafghanistanwhilealowproportionknowabouttheparasite AT zahrazarghona particularlyneglectedincountrieswithotherchallengeshightoxoplasmagondiiseroprevalenceinpregnantwomeninkabulafghanistanwhilealowproportionknowabouttheparasite AT abdolhosseindalimi particularlyneglectedincountrieswithotherchallengeshightoxoplasmagondiiseroprevalenceinpregnantwomeninkabulafghanistanwhilealowproportionknowabouttheparasite AT pikkajokelainen particularlyneglectedincountrieswithotherchallengeshightoxoplasmagondiiseroprevalenceinpregnantwomeninkabulafghanistanwhilealowproportionknowabouttheparasite AT ahmadhosseinisafa particularlyneglectedincountrieswithotherchallengeshightoxoplasmagondiiseroprevalenceinpregnantwomeninkabulafghanistanwhilealowproportionknowabouttheparasite AT mohammadrezamohammadi particularlyneglectedincountrieswithotherchallengeshightoxoplasmagondiiseroprevalenceinpregnantwomeninkabulafghanistanwhilealowproportionknowabouttheparasite AT erfanjavanmardi particularlyneglectedincountrieswithotherchallengeshightoxoplasmagondiiseroprevalenceinpregnantwomeninkabulafghanistanwhilealowproportionknowabouttheparasite AT mohammadbaqerbasirat particularlyneglectedincountrieswithotherchallengeshightoxoplasmagondiiseroprevalenceinpregnantwomeninkabulafghanistanwhilealowproportionknowabouttheparasite |