High toxoplasmosis seroprevalence among young pregnant women in Medea, Algeria.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease with worldwide distribution and a major public health problem. In fact, the zoonotic pathogen Toxoplasma gondii infects humans and almost all warm-blooded animals. One of the most common sources of human T. gondii infection is the ingestion of tissue cysts in raw or undercooked meat. The current epidemiological study was carried out in Medea (Algeria), from January to June 2017, using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Antibodies against T. gondii were determined in sera of more than one thousand pregnant women. The different age groups were: 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-35, 35-40 and 40-45. Among 1,012 pregnant women analyzed, 252 (25%) were found seropositive, 49 among them showed a IgG+/IgM+ profile, and 760 (75%) were seronegative exhibiting IgG-/IgM-. Toxoplasmosis prevalence's were 44.5% and 39.5% in 15-20 and 20-25 age categories, respectively. A long-term prevention program is needed and strategies should be focused on the serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis, especially in pregnant women. Since the consumption of raw or undercooked meat is not a part of the culinary culture in that area of study, cat exposure remains the principal factor of human infection.