Abstract

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Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected pregnant women are susceptible to a variety of infections including toxoplasmosis with high potential of the parasite to cause severe complications. This study was aimed at determining the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among HIV infected pregnant women in Kano-Nigeria. The study was conducted at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH). A cross sectional study was used to recruit 273 HIV seropositive pregnant women for the study. Standard procedures were used to screen these patients for T. gondii antibodies (IgG/IgM) including determination of the CD4 cell counts. The seroprevalence was found to be 30.8% for IgG and 3.3% for IgM while the overall prevalence was 34.1%. The prevalence of anti-toxoplasma IgG according to the age of the subjects showed highest prevalence (40%) among the age group 11-20. Those from the rural areas had the highest prevalence of 33.3% and 5.3% both for IgG and IgM compared to the urban dwellers. There is a significant statistical association between the latent infection of T. gondii (IgG) and contact with cats (P=0.00). Strong relationship between IgG and poorly cooked meats was further established (P=0.00). Seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii infection is higher (72.4%) in those with CD4 cell count of <200 cells/mls. The results of this study indicated that HIV infected pregnant women could be at higher risks of Sero-conversion from chronic form (IgG) of T. gondii infection to the acute form (IgM) and that the detection of IgM antibodies is of great concern because IgM is associated with serious consequences on the fetus

Keywords: Toxoplasmosis, HIV infected pregnant women, Seroprevalence, Toxoplasma gondii