Abstract

in English, Arabic, French

Background: Primary toxoplasmosis early in pregnancy may cause fetal pathology. Understanding and documenting serological epidemiology and associated risk factors about Toxoplasma gondii infection is crucial to offering appropriate interventions to prevent such fetal pathology.

Aims: To determine the seroepidemiological status and major risk factors associated with T. gondii infection among pregnant women in Kuwait.

Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional multicentre descriptive study. Blood samples and sociodemographic information were collected from 280 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics. The blood samples were screened with VIDAS Toxo-IgG/IgM and SERIONE IgG/IgM and IgG avidity assays to detect T. gondii-specific antibodies.

Results: Overall seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies among pregnant women was 12.5% and 2.1%, respectively. Only two IgG-positive women had low IgG avidity suggesting acute infection. No significant association was observed between seroprevalence and known risk factors for toxoplasmosis.

Conclusions: This is believed to be the first study of T. gondii infection and its associated risk factors among pregnant women in Kuwait. The seroprevalence rate of 12.5% is one of the lowest in the Middle East. There was no significant association between T. gondii seroprevalence and known risk factors. This may have been due to the high education level (>94%) among pregnant women that may have changed women's behavior during pregnany, thus minimizing transmission of toxoplasmosis.

Keywords: Kuwait; Toxoplasma gondii; pregnant women; risk factors; seroprevalence.