ISSN 2326-7291
International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology (ISSN: 2169-303X) Vol. 2 (3), pp. 060-066, March, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Prevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans from Khartoum State, Sudan
Khalil Mohamed1 ; AAziz A. Ahmed2; Intisar E. Elrayah 3
1Commission for Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Khartoum, P.O. Box, 2404, Sudan.
2Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum-Sudan.
3Tropical Medicine Research Institute TMRI, Khartoum, Sudan.
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 04 February 2013
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common parasites that cause infection to human. The aim of this study was to conduct a sero-prevalence survey of toxoplasmosis in several target groups, including: pregnant women, aborters, neonates, children, suspected cases, cancer patients, HIV patients, volunteers, and camels, drivers. A total of 1146 serum samples were collected and researched for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using Latex Agglutination Test (LAT). Five hundred (out of 1146 cases) resulted positive with a prevalence of 43.6%. High prevalence was found among HIV patients (75%), aborters (58.3%), and suspected cases (55.5%). Higher prevalence was observed in 26-30 years old group than the others (P = 0.0001). Prevalence rate by sex was found to be higher in females than males (P<0.05). Residence was found to be significant in rural areas (P=0.001). The relationship between LAT results and women who aborted was significant (P<0.05). Contact with cats, eating raw meat, and eating soil were significant (LAT) (P=0.0001, P=0.0001, and P=0.006), respectively. Thus, high prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii was recorded in Khartoum State.
Key word: Prevalence- Toxoplasmosis - LAT- ISAGA - Sudan.