Abstract:
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection with public health importance. When pregnant women
acquires infection, it may led to congenital toxoplasmosis culminating in fetal losses and
congenital abnormalities. A cross-sectional study was conducted on slaughtered sheep in
Mandeeq Slaughter House and Pregnant Women attending antenatal care at in Hargiesa group
from June 2021 to December 2021.Therefore, this study was designed to determine the seroprevalence
of
toxoplasmosis
in
sheep
and
pregnant women attending antenatal care at Hargiesa
Group Hospital. Four hundred sera were collected from slaughtered sheep at Mandeeq slaughter
house and two hundred serum samples were taken from pregnant women attending Hargiesa
group hospital. Data on socio-demographic and potential risk factors were collected from each
study using systematic random sampling method. Sera were examined for anti-Toxoplasma
gondii antibodies using latex agglutination test. Multiple logistic regression model was used to
establish the association between toxoplasmosis and associated potential risk factors and P-value
less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. The overall prevalence of
toxoplasmosis in sheep slaughtered in Mandeeq Slaughter House during the study period were
25.5% and 28% in sheep and human respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis
indicated that female (AOR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.38 - 3.47; p = 0.001) and young age groups (AOR
= 3.04; 95% CI: 1.04-8.86; p = 0.041) of sheep were significantly associated with Toxoplasma
gondii sero-positivity. In pregnant women, age groups between 25-34 AOR = 2. 76; 95% CI:
1.07 - 7.14; P = 0.037), pregnant women who have cats in their home (AOR = 6.45; 95% CI:
2.37-17.52 ; P = 0.000) ,women who have close contact with garden soil (AOR = 6.74; 95% CI:
2.55-17.81 ; P = 0.000), poor hand washing before eating (AOR = 29.5; 95% CI: 5.41– 161.11 ;
P= 0.004) and drinking tap water (AOR = 9.99; 95% CI: 2.75 - 36.12; P = 0.013) were
significantly associated with Toxoplasma gondii sero-positivity. In conclusion, toxoplasmosis is
prevalent in Hargeisa. Therefore, pregnant women should avoid close contact with cats and
garden soil.