SEROPREVALENCE AND CO- INFECTION OF Toxoplasma gondii AND Hepatitis B Virus AMONG WOMEN OF CHILD-BEARING AGE IN OSUN STATE NIGERIA

This study assessed the seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii, Hepatitis B Virus and their co-infection infection in women of child-bearing age in communities in Osun State, Nigeria. The study also determines the factors that facilitate the organisms among the studied groups and possible interaction between the prevalence of infection and the risk factors. These were done with a view to providing baseline information on the mode of T. gondii and Hepatitis B Virus transmission.       Sera were analyzed for the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii by commercially available enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit (Demeditec Diagnostics GmbH, Germany) conducted according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The optical densities of wells were measured by a photometer at a wavelength of 450 nm and the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was done using rapid immunochromatographic (IC) tests which are in cassette form. Determination of the blood groups of the donors was done using commercially prepared Anti sera A, B, AB and anti D that determine the Rhesus blood group.       The overall prevalence of T. gondii among the women of child-bearing age in selected six communities in Osun state was 74.2%, while the overall prevalence of Hepatitis B virus among the women was 4.3% and co-infection of T. gondii and Hepatitis B virus was 3.6%. The prevalence of T. gondii was lowest (57.8%) among women from Ile Ife, a peri-urban community and highest (100%) in women residing in Alajue, a rural community. The prevalence of T. gondii infection was significantly higher (P= 0.001) among Islamic women (85.9%) than in Christian women (68.2%) while the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (5.0%) and co-infection of T. gondii and Hepatitis B virus (3.8%) was higher among Christianity. The highest prevalence of (83.6%) was recorded in women with primary education while the lowest of (58.7%) was recorded in women with tertiary education (p =0.037). The highest prevalence of T. gondii (78.5%) was recorded in women that reside in rural area and the lowest (67.5%) was recorded in women that reside in peri-urban area (p=0.016) and also the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (5.9%) and co-infection of T. gondii and Hepatitis B virus (4.6%) was higher in rural area, The highest prevalence of 74.4% of T. gondii was recorded in women with one miscarriage while the lowest value of 73.3% was recorded in women with two miscarriages and the highest prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus infection of 5.7% was recorded in women with one miscarriage while the lowest prevalence of 4.7% was recorded in women with no miscarriage.     The highest prevalence of 100.0% of T. gondii and 7.1% of Hepatitis B Virus infection was recorded in women with pregnancy while the lowest of 13.6% and 4.2% was recorded in women without pregnancy for both respectively.           The study concluded that there was high prevalence of T. gondii infection (74.2%) and also implicates Hepatitis B virus (4.3%) and co-infection of both (3.6%) in the studied population. The high prevalence of T. gondii recorded among women of child-bearing age in the study was highly facilitated by the drinking of water from various sources in the study area. Hence, there is the need for health education and create awareness of the disease and its transmission to women of reproductive age group in general and pregnant women in particular to reduce the risk of T. gondii and Hepatitis B virus in pregnant women.