Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women attending selected general hospitals in Yobe State, Nigeria

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite which affects warm blooded animals including humans and causes toxoplasmosis. It is an endemic zoonotic disease which can be transmitted by consuming undercooked meat or contaminated foods, its primary host is the domesticated cats. The parasite causes wide range of diseases which is unapparent and asymptomatic in immune- competent individuals but leads to serious health problems in immunosuppressed individuals and pregnant women. It is the main cause of congenital toxoplasmosis in pregnant women. This study was carried out to detect the presence of T. gondii in pregnant women attending selected general hospitals in Yobe State. A total of 360 samples were obtained from 3 senatorial district which are Gashua, Potiskum and Gaidam general hospitals with 120 samples each from each district. Gashua recorded the highest prevalence of 18.3% while Potiskum and Gaidem recorded 15.0% and 5.0% respectively with an overall prevalence of 12.77%. It showed a statistical significance at p≤ 0.05 using Toxoplasma elisa IgM capture kit. The mean differential and white blood cell count recorded from pregnant women in the study was relatively low as participants from Gaidam hospital recorded the lowest mean value at 2.50x 109 cells/L while participants from Gashua hospital recorded 4.00x 109 cells/L and pregnant women from Pokiskum hospital recorded 3.30x 109cell/L. In conclusion, this zoonotic infection obtained from domesticated cats can be identified to cause congenital toxoplasmosis which can be fatal to the foetus.