Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women: a current status in Songklanagarind hospital, southern Thailand
Abstract Background Toxoplasmosis, being one of the TORCH’s infections in pregnant women, is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite. This parasitic infection in pregnancy congenitally causes severe outcomes to their fetus and newborn. This study aimed to determine...
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| Format: | Article |
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BMC
2014-05-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-239 |
| _version_ | 1797811724640845824 |
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| author | Hemah Andiappan Veeranoot Nissapatorn Nongyao Sawangjaroen Waenurama Chemoh Yee Ling Lau Thulasi Kumar Subashini Onichandran Chitkasaem Suwanrath Verapol Chandeying |
| author_facet | Hemah Andiappan Veeranoot Nissapatorn Nongyao Sawangjaroen Waenurama Chemoh Yee Ling Lau Thulasi Kumar Subashini Onichandran Chitkasaem Suwanrath Verapol Chandeying |
| author_sort | Hemah Andiappan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Toxoplasmosis, being one of the TORCH’s infections in pregnant women, is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite. This parasitic infection in pregnancy congenitally causes severe outcomes to their fetus and newborn. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and stages of Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women and its associated risks exposures. Methods The study was conducted within the pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic (ANC) at Songklanagarind hospital, Hat Yai, Songkhla province, Thailand. The sera of a total of 760 consecutive pregnant women were screened using standard commercial ELISA kits for detection of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. IgG avidity in the seropositive for both anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies were also assessed. The pregnant women’s socio-demographic, obstetrics and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma seropositivity data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results From the total 760 pregnant women, 190 (25%, 95% CI = 22.05-28.20) were positive for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. Of these, 167 (22.0%, 95% CI = 19.0-25.0) were positive for only anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody and 23 (3.0%, 95% CI = 2.0-4.0) were positive for both anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. All these samples were high avidity, indicated the infection occured prior to four to five months. By applying statistical univariate analysis, age group, occupation and sources of drinking water showed a significant association with Toxoplasma seropositivity (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis further indicated that the significant factors associated with Toxoplasma seropositivity are age ≥26 (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.11-2.44), working as laborer (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.13-2.18) and drinking unclean (piped/tap/rain) water (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.08-2.84). Conclusion The pregnant women in the active age group, working as laborers and exposure to unclean drinking water from various sources were at higher risk of Toxoplasma infection. Therefore, health education and the awareness of risk exposures regarding this parasitic disease are required to minimize the effects of this parasitic infection in pregnant women as well as in the general population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:26:56Z |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:26:56Z |
| publishDate | 2014-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-f59a19ee30ba4a20ad45d50dccedcb0b2023-06-04T11:20:09ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052014-05-01711710.1186/1756-3305-7-239Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women: a current status in Songklanagarind hospital, southern ThailandHemah Andiappan0Veeranoot Nissapatorn1Nongyao Sawangjaroen2Waenurama Chemoh3Yee Ling Lau4Thulasi Kumar5Subashini Onichandran6Chitkasaem Suwanrath7Verapol Chandeying8Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of MalayaDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of MalayaDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla UniversityDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla UniversityDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of MalayaDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of MalayaDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of MalayaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla UniversityAbstract Background Toxoplasmosis, being one of the TORCH’s infections in pregnant women, is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite. This parasitic infection in pregnancy congenitally causes severe outcomes to their fetus and newborn. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and stages of Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women and its associated risks exposures. Methods The study was conducted within the pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic (ANC) at Songklanagarind hospital, Hat Yai, Songkhla province, Thailand. The sera of a total of 760 consecutive pregnant women were screened using standard commercial ELISA kits for detection of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. IgG avidity in the seropositive for both anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies were also assessed. The pregnant women’s socio-demographic, obstetrics and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma seropositivity data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results From the total 760 pregnant women, 190 (25%, 95% CI = 22.05-28.20) were positive for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. Of these, 167 (22.0%, 95% CI = 19.0-25.0) were positive for only anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody and 23 (3.0%, 95% CI = 2.0-4.0) were positive for both anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. All these samples were high avidity, indicated the infection occured prior to four to five months. By applying statistical univariate analysis, age group, occupation and sources of drinking water showed a significant association with Toxoplasma seropositivity (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis further indicated that the significant factors associated with Toxoplasma seropositivity are age ≥26 (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.11-2.44), working as laborer (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.13-2.18) and drinking unclean (piped/tap/rain) water (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.08-2.84). Conclusion The pregnant women in the active age group, working as laborers and exposure to unclean drinking water from various sources were at higher risk of Toxoplasma infection. Therefore, health education and the awareness of risk exposures regarding this parasitic disease are required to minimize the effects of this parasitic infection in pregnant women as well as in the general population.https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-239ToxoplasmosisToxoplasma gondiiSeroprevalenceRisk factorsPregnant womenThailand |
| spellingShingle | Hemah Andiappan Veeranoot Nissapatorn Nongyao Sawangjaroen Waenurama Chemoh Yee Ling Lau Thulasi Kumar Subashini Onichandran Chitkasaem Suwanrath Verapol Chandeying Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women: a current status in Songklanagarind hospital, southern Thailand Parasites & Vectors Toxoplasmosis Toxoplasma gondii Seroprevalence Risk factors Pregnant women Thailand |
| title | Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women: a current status in Songklanagarind hospital, southern Thailand |
| title_full | Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women: a current status in Songklanagarind hospital, southern Thailand |
| title_fullStr | Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women: a current status in Songklanagarind hospital, southern Thailand |
| title_full_unstemmed | Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women: a current status in Songklanagarind hospital, southern Thailand |
| title_short | Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women: a current status in Songklanagarind hospital, southern Thailand |
| title_sort | toxoplasma infection in pregnant women a current status in songklanagarind hospital southern thailand |
| topic | Toxoplasmosis Toxoplasma gondii Seroprevalence Risk factors Pregnant women Thailand |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-239 |
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