American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 97, Issue 1, 2017, Pages 232-235

Seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii infection in refugee and migrant pregnant women along the Thailand-myanmar border (Article) (Open Access)

Van Enter B.J.D.* , Lau Y.-L. , Ling C.L. , Watthanaworawit W. , Sukthana Y. , Lee W.-C. , Nosten F. , McGready R.
  • a Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
  • b Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • c Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
  • d Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • e Department of Protozoology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • f Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A STAR, Singapore, Singapore
  • g Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
  • h Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii primary infection in pregnancy is associated with poor obstetric outcomes. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection in pregnant migrant and refugee women from Myanmar attending antenatal care in Thailand. A random selection of 199 residual blood samples from first antenatal screen in 2014-2015 was tested for Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection was 31.7% (95% confidence interval = 25.6-38.4). Avidity testing in the three positive IgM cases indicated all were past infections. Multiparity (≥ 3 children) was significantly associated with higher Toxoplasma seropositivity rates. Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in this pregnant population is similar to the only other report from Myanmar, where multiparity was also identified as a significant association. Toxoplasma infection is important in pregnant women. Nevertheless, in this marginalized population, this infection may be given less priority, due to resource constraints in providing the most basic components of safe motherhood programs. © 2017 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

spontaneous abortion refugee Toxoplasmosis prenatal care protozoon antibody Antibodies, Protozoan Thailand follow up Toxoplasma human Refugees middle aged premature labor Young Adult Humans migrant Adolescent female pregnancy Myanmar immunology Article blood pregnancy outcome major clinical study adult immunoglobulin M antibody migration small for date infant seroepidemiology immunoglobulin G antibody multipara parity pregnant woman Transients and Migrants seroprevalence immunoglobulin G congenital disorder Birth Weight Seroepidemiologic Studies gestational age immunoglobulin M primigravida
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85024374315&doi=10.4269%2fajtmh.16-0999&partnerID=40&md5=d9234498bedf4daf7379f3c066c2e40b
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0999
ISSN: 00029637
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English