Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). It has a wide host range and is capable of vertical transmission in pregnant women, which may lead to undesirable pregnancy outcomes such as congenital malformations, miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth. This study investigated the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Namwala District Hospital in Southern Zambia.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study where blood was collected, and the serum was tested for Toxoplasma IgG and IgM. A questionnaire was administered to participants on demographic characteristics and risk factors. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel and exported to STATA version 14 for analysis.
RESULTS: A total of 401 women were enrolled in the study from 3 March to 5 August 2021. The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma IgG was 4.2% (n=17), while the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma IgM was 0.7% (n=3). The median age was 27 (IQR: 24-30) years, and a larger proportion had primary-level education (n=223, 55.6%). The majority (81.6%) of the women were married. None of the risk factors investigated in this study were significant for T. gondii infection.
CONCLUSIONS: There was a low seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among pregnant women in the Namwala district of Southern Province, Zambia, and regular screening may not be warranted in this population. Continued research on toxoplasmosis is recommended to understand its epidemiology across Zambia.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study where blood was collected, and the serum was tested for Toxoplasma IgG and IgM. A questionnaire was administered to participants on demographic characteristics and risk factors. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel and exported to STATA version 14 for analysis.
RESULTS: A total of 401 women were enrolled in the study from 3 March to 5 August 2021. The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma IgG was 4.2% (n=17), while the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma IgM was 0.7% (n=3). The median age was 27 (IQR: 24-30) years, and a larger proportion had primary-level education (n=223, 55.6%). The majority (81.6%) of the women were married. None of the risk factors investigated in this study were significant for T. gondii infection.
CONCLUSIONS: There was a low seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among pregnant women in the Namwala district of Southern Province, Zambia, and regular screening may not be warranted in this population. Continued research on toxoplasmosis is recommended to understand its epidemiology across Zambia.
摘要：
背景：弓形虫病是由弓形虫引起的人畜共患寄生虫病（T。gondii）。它具有广泛的宿主范围，能够在孕妇中垂直传播，这可能导致不良的妊娠结局，如先天性畸形，流产,早产和死产。这项研究调查了在赞比亚南部Namwala区医院的产前诊所就诊的孕妇中弓形虫感染的血清阳性率。
方法：这是一项横断面研究，并检测血清弓形虫IgG和IgM。对参与者进行了人口统计学特征和危险因素调查问卷。在MicrosoftExcel中输入数据并导出到STATA版本14用于分析。
结果：从2021年3月3日至8月5日，共有401名女性参加了这项研究。弓形虫IgG的血清阳性率为4.2％（n=17），而弓形虫IgM的血清阳性率为0.7％（n=3）。中位年龄为27(IQR:24-30)岁,初等教育比例较大(n=223，55.6%)。大多数妇女（81.6％）已婚。在这项研究中调查的危险因素对弓形虫感染没有意义。
结论：南部省Namwala区的孕妇中弓形虫感染的血清阳性率较低，赞比亚，并且在该人群中可能不需要定期筛查。建议继续对弓形虫病进行研究，以了解其在赞比亚的流行病学。
方法：这是一项横断面研究，并检测血清弓形虫IgG和IgM。对参与者进行了人口统计学特征和危险因素调查问卷。在MicrosoftExcel中输入数据并导出到STATA版本14用于分析。
结果：从2021年3月3日至8月5日，共有401名女性参加了这项研究。弓形虫IgG的血清阳性率为4.2％（n=17），而弓形虫IgM的血清阳性率为0.7％（n=3）。中位年龄为27(IQR:24-30)岁,初等教育比例较大(n=223，55.6%)。大多数妇女（81.6％）已婚。在这项研究中调查的危险因素对弓形虫感染没有意义。
结论：南部省Namwala区的孕妇中弓形虫感染的血清阳性率较低，赞比亚，并且在该人群中可能不需要定期筛查。建议继续对弓形虫病进行研究，以了解其在赞比亚的流行病学。
