title: Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans in East Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia.
abstract: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2013 to September 2013 to determine the seroprevalence and possible risk factors for human Toxplasma gondii infection in East Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia. Serum samples were analysed using direct agglutination test, and immunosorbent agglutination assay for detecting IgG (n = 354) and IgM (n = 167) T. gondii antibodies. The T. gondii IgG and IgM seroprevalences were 65·8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 60·62-70·75] and 8·98% (95% CI 5·11-14·38), respectively. Gender difference in IgG seroprevalence was not significant (P > 0·05), but 69·5% of adults exhibited an IgG seroresponse to T. gondii. Pregnant women showed 76·4% and 9·3% seropositivity to IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified the risk factors significantly associated with T. gondii seropositivity were district [odds ratio (OR) 2·24, 95% CI 1·25-4·01, P = 0·007], pipe water source (OR 6·70, 95% CI 2·70-16·64, P < 0·001), age, with adults (OR 4·32, 95% CI 1·91-9·75, P < 0·001), and keeping cats in the home (OR 2·01, 95% CI 1·11-3·65, P = 0·021). The high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in the human population in the study area and the corresponding level of IgM seropositivity may be indicative of reactivation or recent infection and further studies on the status of congenital toxoplasmosis in the study area merit consideration.
authors.affiliation: Haramaya University,College of Veterinary Medicine,Department of Parasitology,Dire Dawa,Ethiopia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tilahun
authors.affiliation: Addis Ababa University,College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture,Department of Pathology and Parasitology,Debre Zeit,Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hailu
authors.affiliation: Addis Ababa University,Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology,Addis Ababa,Ethiopia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tilahun
authors.affiliation: Addis Ababa University,College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture,Department of Pathology and Parasitology,Debre Zeit,Ethiopia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ashenafi
authors.affiliation: Italian National Reference Centre for Toxoplasmosis at Instituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia A. Mirri,Palermo,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.affiliation: Italian National Reference Centre for Toxoplasmosis at Instituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia A. Mirri,Palermo,Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Marco
authors.affiliation: Ambo University,Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences,Department of Veterinary Laboratory Technology,Ambo,Ethiopia.
authors.forename: E Z
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Gebremedhin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
keywords: Direct agglutination test; Ethiopia; ISAGA; Toxoplasma gondii; risk factor; seroprevalence