Abstract

SEROPREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMOSIS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN KASIR KHIAR TOWN, LIBYA

Fathi Saad Dagdag*, Rehab Massoud Wheda, Kamal Faraj Zaed and Kadeejah Omar Abdulsalam

ABSTRACT

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common diseases worldwide caused by a coccidian parasite, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). The seroprevalence of T. gondii ranges from 10 to 80% among different regions of the world depending on cultural and eating habits, hygiene, as well as environmental conditions. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis gondii infection and associated demographic, clinical, and behavioral risk factors in pregnant women attending clinic at kasir khiar town in Libya. A prospective study was conducted among pregnant women attended at kasir khiar, Libya from April 2019 to March 2020. A total of 70 pregnant women were admitted during the period of study. The majority of the pregnant women were aged between 18-38 years. The overall positivity rates of IgG and IgM against T. gondii among 70 pregnant women were 20 and 2.85%, respectively. 75.5% of the participants had never heard about toxoplasmosis and the associated risk factors. Keeping pet cats was not common and poorly associated with infections (IgG with 6.7% positive and 93.3% negative) and (IgM with 3.3% positive and 96.7% negative). Abortion positivity rates the value of IgM and IgG were 3.3% and 6.7% respectively. Our study showed that a large number of pregnant women are not immunized for toxoplasmosis and identified the risk factors for this infection in kasir khia arear. It is therefore vital to provide a formal education about toxoplasmosis risk factors to women with childbearing age.

Keywords: Toxoplasmosis, pregnant women, Kasir khiar, Libya.