Comparative Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Toxoplasmosis among Four Subgroups in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Aims: This study was carried out to investigate the comparative seroprevalence and associated risk factors of toxoplasmosis among four subgroups in Port Harcourt viz: immunocompromised persons (HIV), pregnant women (PTW) and schizophrenics (SZN), using immunocompetent persons (IP) as controls.

Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study was adopted.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH) and Neuro Psychiatric Hospital (NPH) between March 2016 and February 2017.

Methodology: A total of 800 (200 from each of the group) samples were collected from subjects from the three hospitals. Study participants of ≥20 years were used in this study. The detection of T. gondii antibodies in examined sera was carried out using ELISA –IgG and IgM assay using standard procedures. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on social demographic risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis.

Results: Out of the 800 (200 per group) examined, SZN recorded the highest seroprevalence of IgG 50%(100)(P.= .05) and IgM 4%(8) followed closely by HIV subjects with seroprevalence of IgG 32%(72) (P=.05) and IgM 2%(3). However, the seroprevalence were not significantly different from that of the immunocompetent control group which had the least seroprevalence. Schizophrenia subjects in age group 20-24 years recorded the highest seroprevalence with (P=.05) The unemployed recorded the highest seroprevalence for SZN with rates of 43% for IgG. More males were infected with the disease than females. Male Schizophrenics recorded a seroprevalence of 20.9%. There was no significant relationship between seroprevalence and demographic factors among subjects.

Conclusion: Our findings indicated that toxoplasmosis was relatively prevalent (P=.05) among the studied population, with schizophrenics having the highest seroprevalence. Therefore, incorporating detection of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in routine testing in our health care centers is recommended for monitoring and control of the disease.