SEROPREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF DISTRICT PESHAWAR, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

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1 SEROPREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF DISTRICT PESHAWAR, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN *Kalimullah 1, Mian Adnan 3, Amir Khan 1, Naila Gul 1, Faryal Gohar 1 and Irfan Ullah 2 1Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science and Technology Kohat, Pakistan 2Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Science and Technology Kohat, Pakistan 3School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Gansu China. *Corresponding author: drkhancemb@gmail.com Abstract: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic protozoan parasite that can be transferred from animals to human population. Basically it infects all warm blooded animals including humans. It is a worldwide distributed protozoan parasite mostly found in warm and humid condition. In human it cause severe abnormalities like hydrocephaly, microcephaly and mental retardation etc. The current study was designed to find out the seroprevalene of T. gondii in human population in district Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Total 175 sera sample were tested for Toxoplasma by using ELISA, out of which (31.42%) were seropositive. The prevalence was found in all age groups. (22.5%) in age group (10-20 years), (28.78%) in age group (31-30 years) and (39.13%) in age group (31-50 years). The seroprevalence was found more in rural area (32%) as compared to urban area (31%). Keywords: Toxoplasma, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ELISA, Seroprevalence, Toxoplasmosis. INTRODUCTION Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a chancer protozoan parasite that causes very high mortality and morbidity in warm blooded animals like cat, dogs and human as well. It has zoonotic property that may transfer from animals to human and can cause serious problems of immunedeficiency in pregnancy (Hill and Dubey, 2002). Among domestic animal, cat and sometime dog also act as a definitive host while sheep, cattle, pig, rate, mice etc, are act as intermediate hosts (Glazebrook et al., 1978). Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that consists of single cell was found more than 100 years ago in the North African comb rat (Nicolle and Manceaux, 1908). The commonness of T. gondii ranges from normal animal such as sheep, dogs and cows to more unusual Australian Wallabies, Brazilian Agoutis (rodent) and sea mammals (Soares et al., 2011). Animals get the infection of T. gondii by ingestion of meat, contact with cat faeces or by transmission of infection from mother to unborn baby. Humans get infected by eating undercooked meat or drinking water contaminated with oocysts in the faeces (Dumètre and Dardé, 2003 and Sroka et al., 2006). This is a global infection mostly found in warm and moist climate (Al-Qurashi et al., 2001). In immune-deficient people, T. 17

2 gondii infect central nervous tissues. Sometimes it may also causes encephalitis, anxiety and personal disorders (Torrey and Yolken, 2003). Many studies have been conducted on seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in different part of the world including some cities of Pakistan but there was no published data over T. gondii in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The present study was conducted to see the prevalence rate of toxoplasmosis in human population of District Peshawar, Pakistan. Study Area MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study was carried out in Peshawar, the city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. Peshawar lies between Latitudes 33 54? to 34 4? N and Longitudes to E. The total area of this district is 1,257 square km. The total population of Peshawar is 3,307,798 Million (de Amorim Garcia et al., 2004). Blood Collection Fig. 1. Map of Pakistan showing Peshawar the study area. Around 3-4 ml of blood samples were collected in non EDTA tubes (Gel Tubes) from the vein by using a disposable syringe. Blood samples were correctly labelled and tag with numbers. The blood was allowed to clot for an hour. Number of Blood Samples Randomly 175 blood samples were conducted form women population of different areas of Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 18

3 Serum Separation Blood samples were centrifuged at 3000 rpm (Revolution per minute) for 15 minutes. The clean and clear supernatant was separated with the help of micropipette into eppendorf tubes by using separate tips for each sample. The serum samples were further stored at -20 C until further analysis of T. gondii-specific IgG and IgM antibodies detection. Serodiagnosis Serum samples were tested for Toxoplasma-specific IgG and IgM-specific immunoglobulins through indirect Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (Indirect ELISA) technique. Statistical Analysis Seroprevalence of T. gondii in women of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwawas analyzed using one way ANOVA using SPSS statistics software. RESULTS 175 serum samples were tested for Toxoplasma IgG positive out of which (55/175) serum samples were seropositive regarding anti Toxoplasma IgG and the percentage of seropositive samples was (31.42%). The Toxoplasma infection was found both in rural and urban areas. 100 of sera samples were tested from rural area out of which 31 were IgG seropositive. The prevalence percentage was (31%). 75 sera samples were tested from rural area. The prevalence rate was (32%). The P value was that was analyzed by one way ANOVA. The infection was also present in all age groups that were (10-50 Years). The prevalence rate was (22.5%) in age group years, (28.78%) in age group and (39.42%) in age group These age groups were further analyzed by using one way ANOVA and the P value was Table 1. Relationship between age and human toxoplasmosis. Age (Years) Sample Size IgG Positive IgG Positive % P Value = (Y) % (Y) % (Y) % Total % Table 2. Relationship between area and human toxoplasmosis. Area Sample Size IgG Positive IgG Positive % P value = Urban % Rural % Total % 19

4 DISCUSSION Toxoplasmosis is worldwide protozoan parasitic disease and it is mostly a risk factor to the fetus and also to a person having weak immune system. There are different kinds of techniques used to detect the seroprevalence of T. gondii in human population. In our study, ELISA was used as it has high sensitivity. Many reports are present over toxoplasmosis in different areas regarding IgG. Eastern Saudi Arabia having (30%) of seroprevalence rate regarding Toxoplasma (Al-Qurashi et al., 2001), while high prevalence was found in Brazil (47.4%), Egypt (59.6%) and Ethiopia (90%) individually (de Amorim Garcia et al., 2004 and Shimelis et al., 2009). On the other hand, there is a lower seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in Vietnam (4.19%), Mexico (11.3%), Pakistan (22%) and (26.3%) in India (Udonsom et al., 2008 and Dhumne et al., 2007). The prevalence of this protozoan parasite depends upon different factors like socio-economic status, nutrition and immunity etc. (Alegria et al., 2010). Undercooked meat, hygienic condition and oocysts contaminated water are also risk factors for the prevalence of Toxoplasma (Sroka et al., 2010). The prevalence of toxoplasmosis has been noted in the population living in rural area. This may be because of lack of education and environmental condition. Lengthy summer and dry season of these areas may be favorable condition for the sporulation of Toxoplasma oocysts (Hoffman et al., 1993). The seroprevalence of the current study was found to be (31.42%). Comparatively the seropositivity was more present in that human population that was living in rural areas (32%) as compared to urban area (31%). The seroprevlence was also noted according to age groups. The seroprevalence of T. gondii was more present in the age group between (30-50) that was (39.13%). The prevalence rate was (22.5%) in age group between (10-20). The age group between (21-30) was (28.13%) seropositive. Comparatively older age population was more seropositive regarding Toxoplasma as compared to other age groups. CONCLUSION The infection rate regarding Toxoplasma was high in district Peshawar the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The present study shows that the infection was prevalent in comparatively older individuals. There is a need to create a public awareness. Mainly molecular level work should be done and key steps must be taken for vaccines preparation. 20

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