Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii infection during pregnancy can lead to many complications such as abortion, cerebral calcifications, chorioretinitis, and hydrocephalus. In Senegal, toxoplasmosis primary prevention during pregnancy usually refers to prenatal screening of pregnant women, but epidemiological data are needed to help shape human toxoplasmosis prevention policy. This study assessed T. gondii seroprevalence among pregnant women attending the Fann Teaching Hospital in Dakar Senegal. An observational, descriptive study was conducted at the laboratory of parasitology at Fann Teaching Hospital in Dakar. Pregnant woman attending the Fann Teaching Hospital for antenatal visit provided 10 ml of blood collected into a dry container. T. gondii immunoglobin G (IgG) carriage was assessed using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. One thousand two hundred and thirty six (1236) venous blood samples were collected. Overall, 437 samples were positive; T. gondii seroprevalence was thus evaluated at 35.4% (95% CI: 32.7 - 38.1). T. gondii seroprevalence was more frequent in the age group above 30 years (38.3%) compared to the pregnant women with an age below 30 years (31.9%). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, after adjustment on the study period, pregnant women above the age of 30 years were more likely to carry T. gondii IgG: adjusted odds ratio 1.37 (95% CI: 1.10 - 1.74; p=0.01). Seroprevalence of T. gondii was significantly higher among pregnant women above the age of 30 years, leaving younger women more susceptible to primary infection with T. gondii and their babies to congenital toxoplasmosis. Improving awareness of toxoplasmosis risk factors and its different modes of transmission in these high-risk groups will be needed; but it should be supported by epidemiological studies on toxoplasmosis risk factors distribution among pregnant women and women of reproductive age.

Key words: Toxoplasmosis, pregnancy, Senegal, seroprevalence.