Background

Toxoplasmosis is one of the common worldwide parasitic zoonosis, caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii [1]. Felines are the only definitive host while all other warm-blooded animals including humans are intermediate hosts for the parasite [2]. T. gondii is commonly transmitted to humans by accidental ingestion of oocyst stage of the parasite in water, food or soil contaminated with cat’s faeces, or by eating raw or undercooked meat containing oocysts [2, 3]. It can also be transmitted congenitally during pregnancy [4]. In addition, other infectious pathways include blood transfusion, and organs transplantation [5]. Toxoplasmosis is more common in areas with tropical and very humid climates which are favorable conditions for the maintenance and dissemination of the oocysts [6].

Toxoplasmosis is a major public health problem in the world. Indeed, it is estimated that about one third of the World’s population is infected with T. gondii. Although usually asymptomatic, it can result during pregnancy in fetal and neonatal death or various congenital defects [7] especially when the congenital infection occurs during the first trimester due to acute infection during pregnancy.

In Africa, the seroprevalence of T. gondii during pregnancy is generally as high as 80% [3, 8]. Moreover, presence of domestic cat at home [3], contact with cat and gardening soil [8] were found to be the main risk factor toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.

In Burkina Faso, the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis during pregnancy have been poorly reported [9,10,11] and none of those previous reports had assessed risk factors for toxoplasmosis. This study sought therefore to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii and to identify the potential risks factors associated with of T. gondii infection among pregnant women following ANC services at Bobo Dioulasso, the second largest city of Burkina Faso.

Methods

Study area and period

This study was conducted in Bobo-Dioulasso town from March 2013 to February 2014. Bobo-Dioulasso is the second biggest city of Burkina Faso located in the South-west of the country with an estimated population of 1.7 million inhabitants. The climate is subtropical and humid with an average annual temperature above 20 °C. Agriculture (e.g., corn, millet, sorghum, peanuts, rice, cotton, vegetables) and livestock (poultry and cattle) is the main economic activity. Also, water supply system is made of natural source and drilling. Once collected, water will undergo several types of treatment depending on their origin so that it can be suitable for consumption and is then distributed to the population according to standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Overall 5000 pregnant women attended the ANC clinics per year with an estimated birth rate of 43.6 ‰ [12]. There was no serological screening of pregnant women for T. gondii infection in Bobo-Dioulasso town and Burkina Faso in general.

Study design and population

We carried out a cross-sectional study enrolling a sample of 316 pregnant women attending ANC at centers for maternal and child health of Bobo-Dioulasso town from March 2013 to February 2014. Sample size was determined using single population proportion formula with seroprevalence value (p = 30.0%) taken from previous study (10) and 95% confidence interval (CI) with a 5% desired absolute precision was considered. A systematic random sampling technique was used to obtain the required sample.

Questionnaire survey

Pregnant women were interviewed to collect data about the potential risk factors for toxoplasmosis by using structured questionnaire. The questionnaire covered socio-demographic information including age, level of education, occupation, residence (urban area versus rural area of Bobo-Dioulasso town (i.e. those who are living in the suburb of the city)), source of drinking water, and obstetric history and other behavioral factors like consumption of meat and milk. Furthermore, presence of domestic cats in their home was addressed.

Samples collection and serological analysis

After signing informed consent, 10 mL of venous blood were collected from each pregnant women in the tube coated EDTA. Each tube was centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 min to remove plasma that was frozen at −20 °C until use.

Serogical diagnosis of toxoplasmosis was performed using both immunoglobin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies determination from sera in the Laboratory of Parasitology and Mycology of the Sourou Sanou teaching hospital of Bobo-Dioulasso. Sera were analysed using a standard Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) commercial Kit (AxSYM), Abbott, Laboratoiries, Abbott Park, III, USA) and according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A titer of IgG anti-Toxoplasma antibody ≥3 IU/ml was considered as positive in this study [13]. In order to confirm the first results, new samples were collected after 21 days.

Quantitative determination of specific IgM antibodies was performed using the enzyme linked fluorescent assay (ELFA) based on the VIDAS System (bio Mérieux-Lyon, France). IgM concentration > 0.65 index was used as reference value for positive results. Samples were considered reactive for IgM when the antibody concentration was greater than or equal to 0.6 index, non-reactive when the concentration was equal to 0 index, and undetermined when the concentration was between 0.4 and 0.5 index.

IgG avidity index was measured using the VIDAS System (bio Mérieux-Lyon, France) and results were interpreted according to the manufacturer’s instructions with the reference value for high avidity i.e., IgG > 0.3 [14].

Data analysis

Data were coded and entered into Epidata 3.1 software. Data were thereafter imported to statistical STATA 12 (Stata Corp, College Station, TX, USA), cleaned before performing analyses. Cross-tabulations of sero-status were done with socio-demographic and behavioral characteristic as summary measures.

Univariate logistic regression was used as bivariate analysis to select significant variables to be used in subsequent multivariable logistic regression analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and computed their 95% CI. Variables resulting in p-values less than 0.05 was considered to be significantly associated with seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis.

Ethical considerations

Ethical clearance was obtained from the National Research Ethical Committee from Burkina Faso (number 0123/10). Informed written consent was sought from each pregnant woman prior to involvement in the study. Information collected from each study participant was kept confidential and venous blood specimens collected were preserved anonymously.

Results

Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection

A total of 316 pregnant women were enrolled during the study period with the mean age ± standard deviation (SD) of 26. 9 ± 4.2 years. The prevalence of specific anti-T. gondii IgG was of 31.1% (98/316). No IgM antibodies for T. gondii were found. All cases with Toxoplasma-specific antibodies presented high avidity indexes.

Risk factors associated with T. gondii infection

In univariate analysis only non-housewives (OR = 2.05; 95% CI: [1.18–3.57]), women with at least secondary education level (OR = 2.12; 95% CI: [1.07–4.18]) and those living in urban areas of Bobo-Dioulasso town (OR = 2.41; 95% CI: [1.07–5.42]) were at higher odds of T. gondii infection (Table 1). In addition, consumption of meat combination (pork + beef + mutton + bush meat + poultry) was significantly associated with T. gondii seroprevalence (OR = 4.78; 95% CI: [1.31–17.30]) (Table 2).

Table 1 Univariate analysis of Toxoplasma seroprevalence in relation to socio-demographic characteristics among the pregnant women (n = 316) in Bobo-Dioulasso town
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Table 2 Univariate analysis of Toxoplasma seroprevalence in relation to behavioral characteristics among the pregnant women (n = 316) in Bobo-Dioulasso town
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Finally, the result of multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that having at least secondary education level (AOR = 2.23; 95% CI: [1.04–4.63]); urban residence (AOR = 2.81; 95% CI: [1.24–6.86]) and the consumption of meat combination (pork + beef + mutton + wild meat + poultry) (AOR = 4.00; 95% CI: [1.06–15.24]) were potential risk factors of T. gondii infection (Table 3).

Table 3 Risk factors associated with Toxoplasma seroprevalence among the pregnant women (n = 316) in Bobo-Dioulasso town
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Discussion

The prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies observed in this study (31.1%) was consistent with previous findings reported in pregnant women from urban areas of Burkina Faso and ranged from 28.3% to 31% [9,10,11]. Our result was lower than those reported in Ghana (92.5%) [15] and in Ethiopia (higher than 68%) [3, 8, 16, 17]. However, lower seroprevalence of T. gondii was reported in many European countries and the United States of America [18]. Such seroprevalence variations could be due to differences in climatic conditions (dry climate, rainfall, temperature, soil type, altitude) and mothers’ characteristics such as management of cats, educational level, hygienic practice and feeding habit [3, 8, 17]. Furthermore, differences in serological methods used and the sensitivity difference could explain such discrepancy [8, 17].

All the pregnant women were positive for IgG anti-bodies exclusively suggesting either past infection or acquired immunity. Thus, they were not likely able to infect their fetus outside a context of high immunosuppression [6, 19].

In this study high education level, being urban resident and the consumption of meat combination (pork + beef + mutton + wild meat + poultry) were identified as possible risk factors associated with T. gondii infection. Women with high education level were more likely to consume meat combination (pork + beef + mutton + wild meat + poultry) probably due to their high income and were therefore more exposed to T. gondii infection. Our findings suggest the need for preventive measures such as education of pregnant women about the transmission routes and prevention methods of toxoplasmosis at ANC clinics. However, a previous study in Ethiopia showed that women who cannot read and write were 5 times more likely to acquire T. gondii infection than those who had tertiary level of education [17]. In Brazil, pregnant women with low educational status had higher seroprevalence of T. gondii [20]. Moreover, reports from Netherlands and USA, showed that the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis increases when the level of education decreases [6, 21].

Furthermore, the association between seroprevalence of T. gondii and urban residence of Bobo-Dioulasso town could be explained by insalubrity due to the demographic pressure in that town and dilapidation of water pipelines. Both factors are known to favor the survival of oocysts and to maintain a high prevalence of T. gondii infection [22,23,24]. Our results suggest the need for conducting further studies to better understand to what extend urban residence plays a role in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in Bobo-Dioulasso town.

In our study pregnant women consuming meat combination (pork + beef + mutton + wild meat + poultry) were significantly at greater risk of toxoplasmosis. This could be due to differences in the seroprevalence of T. gondii in the type of animals consumed in that town. Indeed, we previously reported a seroprevalence of 14.3% and 60% for both bovine and ovine toxoplasmosis in Bobo-Dioulasso town during the same period of the study [25, 26]. Altogether our data highlight the need for further studies aiming to assess the seroprevalence of T. gondii in domestic animals such pigs and poultry.

We do acknowledge some limitations to our study. First, risk factor assessment was done based on study participants’ response which may suffer from recall bias. Second, since this study was heath centers based study, it may not represent the general population.

Conclusion

Toxoplasmosis is frequent in pregnant women and studies that show incidence of congenital infection among the neonates have to be done to introduce routine antenatal screening program to control congenital toxoplasmosis. Education level, being urban resident and the consumption of meat combination were identified as possible risk factors associated with T. gondii infection. There is the need for preventive measures such as education of pregnant women about the transmission routes and prevention methods of toxoplasmosis at ANC clinics. Further studies aiming to assess the seroprevalence of T. gondii in domestic animals are warranted.