Prevalence and Determinants of Toxoplasma Seropositivity among Women Who had Spontaneous Abortion in Gombe, North-Eastern Nigeria
H. U. Farouk *
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria.
M. M. Manga
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria.
U. R. Yahaya
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, Gombe, Nigeria.
C. H. Laima
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria.
A. I. Lawan
Department of Histopathology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria.
F. M. Ballah
Department of Veterinary, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Usmanu Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. U. El-Nafaty
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: To determine the seroprevalence and determinants of Toxoplasma IgG and IgM seropositivity among women with spontaneous abortion in Gombe.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 302 pregnant women with spontaneous abortion, presenting at the gynaecological emergency units of Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe and State Specialist Hospital Gombe. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data, and a venous blood sample was drawn from each participant and tested for Toxoplasma IgG and IgM by ELISA technique.
Results: Toxoplasma seroprevalence was 62(20.5%) and was higher in women that owned cats (24% vs 20.1%, OR 1.3, 0.5-3.1) and ate grilled meat (suya) (21.0% vs 11.8%, OR 2.0, 0.4-9.0), but lower in those that washed fruits and vegetables before consumption (OR 0.6, 0.2-1.4).
Conclusion: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis in Gombe is high and may be influenced by cat ownership cooking and eating habit.
Keywords: Toxoplasmosis, immunoglobulins, abortions, miscarriage