Discussion

Toxoplasma gondii may cause some repeated abortions, stillbirth and fetal loss in infected pregnant women. Since, during pregnancy the clinical implications of these infections are tremendously dangerous which necessitates the importance of evaluating the immunological status of the pregnant women regarding toxoplasmosis [8]. In our study, the minimum age of the patient was 18 years and the maximum age was 55 years. Mean age of the patients was 25.78±5.78 years. Toxoplasmosis was most prevalent in the age group of 21-30 years. Spalding et al. also observed a higher prevalence among people aged 20-30 years [9]. It was similar to the studies done by Hung et al. and Malarvizhi et al. in which the seropositivity was more in the age group of 20-40 years whereas it was lower for those below 20 years and above 40 years [8,10]. But in few studies it was found that prevalence increases as the age increases, the reason might be increasing risk of exposure with age [11]. This may be due to the fact that the frequency of infection increases with older age groups as the probability of an individual coming into contact with the transmission routes increases as his or her age increases.

In our study, maximum number of patients seropositive for toxoplasmosis belonged to low socioeconomic strata that is socioeconomic class IV (48%) followed by socioeconomic class III (32%), class II (14%), class V (6%) and class I (0%). Maximum number of patients having acute infection were in is socioeconomicclass IV (50%) followed by socioeconomic class III (32.5%), class II (12.5%), class V (5%) and class I (0%). It was similar to a study done in Hyderabad, India which showed a higher percentage of seropositivity in women of low socio-economic group (33%) compared to those of high socio-economic group(22%) [12]. A multivariate analysis done in United States showed that risk of T.gondii infection was higher in persons with a lower educational level and those who lived in crowded places [6]. In another study done in Cali, Columbia there was a significant trend towards a higher seroprevalence in the lower socio-economic strata (low: 49%, high: 29%) [13]. In a study conducted in 112 pregnant women with history of pregnancy wastage in Assam it was observed that higher prevalence of T. gondii infection was associated with low socioeconomic status [14]. The present study suggests that social and economic differences have a major impact on transmission of the parasite. Seroprevalence tends to be lower in pregnant women who adopted appropriate hygienic measures regarding food and cooking habits such as washing chopping boards with soap or bleach, using different chopping board for meats and vegetables, the frequent washing of knives and hands while cooking and avoiding contamination of food by protecting it from flies and dust compared to the uneducated group belonging to lower socio economic strata [15].

Thus to prevent infection by T. gondii, the hands of people handling meat should be washed thoroughly with soap and water before they go to other tasks. All cutting boards, sink tops, knives, and other materials coming in contact with uncooked meat should also be washed with soap and water. Pregnant women, especially, should avoid contact with cats, soil, and raw meat. Untreated water has beenshown to be an effective vehicle for the transmission of the parasite, and drinking water sources potentially contaminated with oocysts should be avoided. Above all, expectant mothers should be aware of the dangers of toxoplasmosis [16].