van der Colf, Berta E.van Zyl, Gert U.Noden, Bruce H.Ntirampeba, Dismas2022-04-122022-04-122020-05-13van der Colf, B. E., van Zyl, G. U., Noden, B. H., & Ntirampeba, D. (2020). Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women in Windhoek, Namibia, in 2016. Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases, 35(1), Article 25. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajid.v35i1.25https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14446/335136Background: When a pregnant woman contracts Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection during pregnancy, it may be vertically transmitted to the foetus. Information on the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) in developing countries is scarce. Most studies focus on the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among pregnant women. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among pregnant women attending public antenatal care in Windhoek, Namibia, in 2016.Methods: In this descriptive study, 344 urban pregnant women attending public antenatal care were voluntarily enrolled in the study. Seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii Immunoglobulin G (IgG) was determined by automated immunoassay. Samples with a positive T. gondii IgG result were tested for T. gondii Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and specific IgG avidity by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. A questionnaire captured demographic data and exposure to risk factors. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and R.Results: Anti-T. gondii IgG was found in nine (2.61%) pregnant women. There was no association of anti-T. gondii IgG with demographic characteristics or exposure to risk factors. Anti-T. gondii IgM was positive in one (0.3%) woman, while three (0.9%) women had borderline anti-T. gondii IgM results. Specific IgG avidity was low, equivocal and high in 0%, 33% and 67% of seropositive pregnant women, respectively.Conclusion: Seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG is much lower in Namibia than is reported in other developing countries. Investigation into specific IgM seropositivity and IgG avidity showed that pregnant women in the central region of Namibia are at low risk of vertical transmission and development of CT.application/pdfThis material has been previously published. In the Oklahoma State University Library's institutional repository this version is made available through the open access principles and the terms of agreement/consent between the author(s) and the publisher. The permission policy on the use, reproduction or distribution of the material falls under fair use for educational, scholarship, and research purposes. Contact Digital Resources and Discovery Services at lib-dls@okstate.edu or 405-744-9161 for further information.2022-04-0710.4102/sajid.v35i1.25ArticleIgG avidityNamibiaToxoplasma gondiipregnant womenseroprevalencetoxoplasmosisEmerging Infectious DiseasesPerinatal Period - Conditions Originating in Perinatal PeriodPreventionFoodborne IllnessInfectious DiseasesVaccine RelatedPediatricBiodefenseInfectionReproductive health and childbirthORCID: 0000-0002-7159-5609 (van der Colf, Berta E.rta E)ORCID: 0000-0003-3021-5101 (van Zyl, Gert U)ORCID: 0000-0002-0096-370X (Noden, Bruce H)ScopusID: 6601968347 (Noden, Bruce H)ORCID: 0000-0002-6278-8134 (Ntirampeba, Dismas)