Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Children With Visual and/or Hearing Disability in Comparison With Healthy Children in Iraq

ABSTRACT

@#Introduction: Infection with Toxoplasma gondii is very prevalent in Iraq. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among children with visual, hearing or both disabilities (VHDC) and among healthy children (HC) living in Diyala and Baghdad provinces in Iraq. Methods: For this study, 100 VHDC children (attending the Al-Amal Centers for Blind, Dumb and Deaf Children) and 100 age-matched healthy children were recruited. Blood was obtained from all disabled and healthy children and the sera were examined for the presence of the specific antibodies (IgG and IgM) of T. gondii. Results: Among VHDC children, the seropositivity of IgG antibodies (24.0%) was significantly higher (OR= 7.6; 95% CI= 2.5-22.8; P= 0.0003) than that in HC children (4.0%). Disabled boys (OR= 5.7; P= 0.009) and disabled girls (OR= 12.7; P= 0.0183) showed significantly higher seropositivity than healthy children. The greatest risk was in disabled children who are their mothers had one or more abortion (OR= 6.89; P= 0.0005), followed by children who have brother or sister with visual and/or hearing disabilities (OR= 5.6; P= 0.0039), children whose their mothers got infection during pregnancy (OR= 2.9; P= 0.0256), and then children whose their mothers have taken treatment (OR= 2.9; P= 0.0256). The presence of stray cats in the houses was identified as a risk factor (OR= 4.05; P= 0.0186). Conclusion: In children with visual and/or hearing disabilities, the seropositivity of IgG antibodies was significantly higher than that in healthy children.