Seroprevalence, risk factors and impact of Toxoplasma gondii infection on haematological parameters in the Ashanti region of Ghana: a cross-sectional study

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate, intracellular, apicomplexan parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. Although the global prevalence of toxoplasmosis has been estimated to be approximately 30%, there is limited seroprevalence data in Ghana, with a dearth of information on the impact of T. gondii on haematological parameters in exposed persons. Methods: Questionnaires were administered to 300 consenting individuals to obtain demographic information and assessment of their risk of exposure to T. gondii. Using anti- T. gondii IgG/IgM combo test kits, seropositivity to parasite-specific IgG and/or IgM was determined. A haematological analyser was used to measure haematological parameters. Results: There was an overall seroprevalence of 50.3% (n=151), with 49.7% (n=149) of the study participants seropositive for IgG and 1% (n=3) testing positive for IgM. Furthermore, the observed seroprevalence among pregnant women was 56.4% (n=62). With regard to settlement type, a seroprevalence of 55.6% was observed in the rural community, 50.6% in the peri-urban community and 47.1% in the urban community. The study identified cat ownership, contact with cat litter, contact with raw meat [RR (95% CI: 1.76 (1.23-2.53), 1.66 (1.03-2.67), 1.25(1.00-1.57)] and age (p<0.001) as risk factors for infection. Analyses of haematological data revealed significant reduction in the white blood cell, lymphocytes and mean corpuscular volume levels in seropositive males (p=0.0223, 0.0275, and 0.0271) respectively. Only the mean corpuscular volume of seropositive females reduced significantly as compared to the seronegative counterparts (p=0.0035). Conclusions: About half of the study population, including women of reproductive age carried antibodies against T. gondii, raising concerns about the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis and anaemia. We, therefore, recommend that screening for Toxoplasma gondii be included in the routine screening of pregnant women seeking antenatal care and further investigation should be conducted on the haematological implications of infection in humans.

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Seroprevalence, risk factors and impact of Toxoplasma gondii infection on haematological parameters in the Ashanti region of Ghana: a cross-sectional study

AAS Open Research ◽

10.12688/aasopenres.13022.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 166 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Samuel Kekeli Agordzo ◽

Kingsley Badu ◽

Mathew Glover Addo ◽

Christian Kwasi Owusu ◽

Abdul-Hakim Mutala ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Urban Community ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Haematological Parameters ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Seroprevalence Data ◽

Study Participants ◽

The Impact

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate, intracellular, apicomplexan parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. Although the global prevalence of toxoplasmosis has been estimated to be approximately 30%, there is limited seroprevalence data in Ghana, with a dearth of information on the impact of T. gondii on haematological parameters in exposed persons. Methods: Questionnaires were administered to 300 consenting individuals to obtain demographic information and assessment of their risk of exposure to T. gondii. Using anti-T. gondii IgG/IgM combo test kits, seropositivity to parasite-specific IgG and/or IgM was determined. A haematological analyser was used to measure haematological parameters. Results: The participants included 58 males and 242 females, and ranged in age from 6 months to 84 years, with a median age of 27 years. There was an overall seroprevalence of 50.3% (n=151), with 49.7% (n=149) of the study participants seropositive for IgG and 1% (n=3) testing positive for IgM. Furthermore, the observed seroprevalence among pregnant women was 56.4% (n=62). With regards to the different communities in which the hospitals were located, a seroprevalence of 55.6% was observed in the rural community, 50.6% in the peri-urban community and 47.1% in the urban community. The study identified cat ownership, contact with cat litter [RR (95% CI: 1.76 (1.23-2.53), 1.66 (1.03-2.67), 1.25(1.00-1.57)] and age (p<0.001) as risk factors for infection. Analyses of haematological data also revealed significant differences between the red blood cell counts (p=0.038) and mean corpuscular volumes (p=0.0007) of seropositive and seronegative study participants. Conclusions: About half of the study population, including a significant number of women of reproductive age carried antibodies against T. gondii, raising questions about the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis, as well as possible links to anaemia. We, therefore, recommend that screening for Toxoplasma gondii be included in the routine screening of pregnant women seeking antenatal care.

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Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and the associated risk factors in sheep and pregnant women in El-Minya Governorate, Egypt

Veterinary World ◽

10.14202/vetworld.2020.54-60 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 54-60 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Abdelbaset E. Abdelbaset ◽

Maha I. Hamed ◽

Mostafa F. N. Abushahba ◽

Mohamed S. Rawy ◽

Amal S. M. Sayed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Latex Agglutination ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Sheep Meat ◽

Associated Risk Factors ◽

Clinical Records ◽

The Impact

Background and Aim: The cosmopolite protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii, has a significant economic and medical impact. Cats traditionally play a predominant role in the disease maintenance cycle; however, humans can be infected as a result of milk and meat consumption of Toxoplasma-infected livestock. In addition, infected pregnant women, even symptomless, can pass the disease to their unborn fetus. The limited clinical records and absence of specific national educational programs in countries like Egypt underscore the need for periodic toxoplasmosis disease evaluation. Here, we identified T. gondii seroprevalence among sheep and pregnant women and the associated risk factors in El-Minya Governorate, Egypt. Materials and Methods: Using peripheral blood, we detected T. gondii-specific antibodies in 151 sheep and 96 pregnant women sera from El-Minya Governorate using latex agglutination and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The impact of different environmental and behavioral risk factors identified with in-person interviews and serology results on acquiring toxoplasmosis was statistically analyzed. Results: The overall toxoplasmosis seroprevalence was 39.1% and 22.9% in sheep and pregnant women, respectively. Significantly higher seroprevalence was correlated with increasing sheep age and geographical location. Nonetheless, no statistical significance was found based on abortion history and pregnancy status of the examined sheep. Exposure factors important for pregnant women included pregnancy trimester, contact with cats, and the habit of eating undercooked sheep meat, which all had a statistically significant association with Toxoplasma seropositivity. Conclusion: The current study confirms increased antibodies against toxoplasmosis in both sheep and pregnant women in El-Minya Governorate and a clear association between women's age, contact with cats, and the habit of eating undercooked sheep meat and seroreactivity to T. gondii. These results strongly suggest the need for a more comprehensive epidemiological study and public health awareness education for toxoplasmosis.

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Prevalence of anaemia and it's associated risk factors among under five children at Mukinge Missions Hospital in Kasempa District: Retrospective Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.16826 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Lloyd Sampa

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Retrospective Study ◽

Mean Corpuscular Volume ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Corpuscular Volume ◽

Under Five ◽

Under Five Children ◽

Mission Hospital ◽

Associated Risk Factors ◽

Prevalence Of Anemia

BACKGROUND Anemia is a worldwide major problem known to affect people throughout the world. It has an adverse effect on both the social and economic development. The worldwide prevalence of anemia is 9% in developed nations. The global estimate indicates that 293.1 million of children under five years, approximately 43%, are anaemic worldwide and 28.5% of these children are found in sub Saharan Africa. In Zambia specifically Kasempa, no documented studies on prevalence have been done. Despite iron supplementation being given to pregnant women and the availability of blood transfusion. The burden of the disease remains high as determined by high mortality and morbidity. This study aims at determining the prevalence of anemia and the associated risk factors among under-five children at Mukinge Mission Hospital in Kasempa District. Knowledge of prevalence and the associated risk factors of anaemia will enhance early detection and timely management. OBJECTIVE 1.To determine the hemoglobin status of anaemia by its severity among anaemic under-five children admitted at Mukinge Mission Hospital. 2.To assess the association of anaemia with Malaria among under-five children admitted at Mukinge Mission Hospital. METHODS This was a retrospective study review of under-five children that were diagnosed and managed of Anemia at Mukinge Missions Hospital, over the period of period of 2015, 2017 and 2018. .Data of the variables of interest was extracted and analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS A sample population of 52 children was included in our study. The majority of the children were females 28 (53.8 %) and 24 (46.2 %) were Males. It was found that moderate and severe anaemia was 17.3% and 82.7 % respectively. Additionally, Majority of the anaemic children (75%) had Normocytic anaemia. The Pearson Chi square test revealed no statistical relationship between the variables; Malaria (p=0.58), Age (P=0.82), Gender (P=0.91). CONCLUSIONS According to our study, 39 (75%) had normal mean corpuscular volume which could suggest chronic diseases and sickle cell anemia. 11 (21.2%) had a low mean corpuscular volume indicating Microcytic anemia which could suggest diseases such as iron deficiency and thalassemia among many other causes. However, we were unable to determine the specific cause of anemia.

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Serological detection of Toxoplasma gondii and associated risk factors among pregnant women in Lahore Pakistan

International Journal of Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1016/j.ijid.2020.09.1099 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 101 ◽

pp. 419

Author(s):

T. Ijaz ◽

S. Ijaz ◽

M. Afzal ◽

N. Ijaz

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Serological Detection ◽

Associated Risk Factors

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Vitamin D and Blood Parameters

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom11071017 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1017

Author(s):

Thomas Müller ◽

Lutz Lohse ◽

Andreas Blodau ◽

Katja Frommholz

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Mean Corpuscular Volume ◽

Plasma Concentrations ◽

Blood Parameters ◽

Vitamin D Supplementation ◽

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin ◽

Corpuscular Volume ◽

Corpuscular Haemoglobin ◽

Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin ◽

The Impact

Background: Vitamin D has a steroid- and an anabolic-resembling chemical structure. Vitamin D is essential for many processes in the human body after hydroxylation. Aims of the Study: To investigate the impact of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D plasma concentrations on the blood parameters number of erythrocytes, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume. Methods: Serial assessments were done in 290 patients with multiple sclerosis and repeated after a mean interval of 245 days. A recommendation for vitamin D supplementation was given in case of a concentration lower than 20 ng/mL combined with a prescription of a formulation containing vitamin D but not vitamin K. Results: There was a fall of vitamin D in 119 subjects and a rise in 164, while no change appeared in 7 participants. When vitamin D values went down between both assessments moments, the computed increase of mean corpuscular haemoglobin was significantly lower compared with the rise of mean corpuscular haemoglobin associated with a vitamin D elevation. When vitamin D declined, the computed fall of mean corpuscular volume fall was significantly lower compared with the decrease of mean corpuscular volume, when vitamin D rose. Positive correlations were found between differences of vitamin D and mean corpuscular haemoglobin, respectively mean corpuscular volume. Inverse relations appeared between disparities of vitamin D and erythrocytes, respectively haematocrit. Conclusions: The elevation of vitamin D plasma levels provides enhanced preconditions for a better tissue oxygenation on a cellular level.

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Geospatial analysis of determinants of neonatal mortality in Ghana

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10473-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Duah Dwomoh

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Neonatal Mortality ◽

Neonatal Death ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Multiple Births ◽

Demographic And Health Surveys ◽

Neonatal Deaths ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Ghana did not meet the Millennium Development Goal 4 of reducing child mortality by two-thirds and may not meet SDG (2030). There is a need to direct scarce resources to mitigate the impact of the most important risk factors influencing high neonatal deaths. This study applied both spatial and non-spatial regression models to explore the differential impact of environmental, maternal, and child associated risk factors on neonatal deaths in Ghana. Methods The study relied on data from the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (GDHS) and the Ghana Maternal Health Survey (GMHS) conducted between 1998 and 2017 among 49,908 women of reproductive age and 31,367 children under five (GDHS-1998 = 3298, GDHS-2003 = 3844, GDHS-2008 = 2992, GDHS-2014 = 5884, GMHS-2017 = 15,349). Spatial Autoregressive Models that account for spatial autocorrelation in the data at the cluster-level and non-spatial statistical models with appropriate sampling weight adjustment were used to study factors associated with neonatal deaths, and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Population density, multiple births, smaller household sizes, high parity, and low birth weight significantly increased the risk of neonatal deaths over the years. Among mothers who had multiple births, the risk of having neonatal deaths was approximately four times as high as the risk of neonatal deaths among mothers who had only single birth [aRR = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.63–7.17, p < 0.05]. Neonates who were perceived by their mothers to be small were at a higher risk of neonatal death compared to very large neonates [aRR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.19–3.63, p < 0.05]. A unit increase in the number of children born to a woman of reproductive age was associated with a 49% increased risk in neonatal deaths [aRR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.30–1.69, p < 0.05]. Conclusion Neonatal mortality in Ghana remains relatively high, and the factors that predisposed children to neonatal death were birth size that were perceived to be small, low birth weight, higher parity, and multiple births. Improving pregnant women’s nutritional patterns and providing special support to women who have multiple deliveries will reduce neonatal mortality in Ghana.

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Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in Vojvodina

Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo ◽

10.2298/sarh1006333b ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 138 (5-6) ◽

pp. 333-336 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Snezana Brkic ◽

Gorana Gajski ◽

Mirjana Bogavac ◽

Daniela Maric ◽

Vesna Turkulov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

General Population ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Acute Infection ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Congenital Toxoplasmosis ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Female Population ◽

Effective Measure ◽

Female Patients

Introduction Toxoplasmosis is an acute infectious anthropozoonotic disease with mild asymptomatic clinical manifestations in immunocompetent persons and more severe in immunocompromised patients. Acute infection in pregnancy can result in severe congenital toxoplasmosis with severe sequels. Objective Aims of study were to detect Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in general population of Vojvodina, Serbia, differences between genders and determination of seroprevalence in women of reproductive age and pregnant women. Methods Our retrospective study was conducted from 2006 to 2008 including 625 immunocompetent patients, hospitalized or observed as outpatients at the Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Novi Sad. We performed commercial ELISA kits SERION - ELISA classic test by VIRION for the presence of specific IgG and IgM antibodies. According to seroepidemiological aim of the study, our results were presented only in qualitative values. Results We observed 173 male and 452 female patients. Seroprevalence in general population of Vojvodina was 38.1%. In male population seroprevalence was 45.7%, and in female population it was 35.2%, the difference which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Seroprevalence increased with age and seroconversion was detected to occur in persons aged about 20 years. In all female patients, 353 (78.1%) were in reproductive age with seroprevalence of 30%. In 161 pregnant women seroprevalence was 31.7%. Conclusion In this study we screened actual seroepidemiological situation to Toxoplasma gondii in Vojvodina, thus giving a contribution to the continuous epidemiological screening done in this region and in the country. According to our results, almost 70% of women in reproductive age were sensitive to primary acute infection during further pregnancies, which is highly important for the prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis. Although not routinely conducted in many countries, routine serological testing to Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women and their education about preventive measures against this infection could be an effective measure in the future.

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