ISSN: 0973-7510

E-ISSN: 2581-690X

Research Article | Open Access
Talal Alharazi1,2 , Jerold C. Alcantara3, Jed Doxtater4, Rachel Hulse3, Amjad R. Alyahyawi5, Fawaz D. Alshammari1, Ibtesam Abdullah6 and Charlie P. Cruz4,7
1Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hail, Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
2Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Taiz University, Taiz, Yemen.
3Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Health, Idaho State University, Idaho, USA.
4Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Wyoming, Casper, Wyoming, USA.
5Department of Diagnostic Radiology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia.
6Department of Health Informatics, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia.
7College of Allied Medical Professions, Lyceum of the Philippines University Batangas, Batangas, Philippines.
Article Number: 10767 | © The Author(s). 2026
J Pure Appl Microbiol. 2026;20(1):382-391. https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.20.1.24
Received: 13 July 2025 | Accepted: 27 November 2025 | Published online: 25 February 2026
Issue online: March 2026
Abstract

Toxoplasmosis poses significant risks to pregnant women and their unborn children. The study aimed at assessing the prevalence and analyzing the risk factors associated with T. gondii infection among pregnant women in Taiz City, Yemen. 400 randomly recruited pregnant women were tested for T. gondii antibodies (IgM and IgG) by enzyme immunoassay. Bio- and socio-demographic data were gathered using a validated questionnaire, completed during face-to-face interviews. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the independent variables associated with T. gondii seroprevalence. The study population had an average age of 26 years, with most participants in the second trimester. A significant proportion of participants reported living in rural areas and had exposure to animals, particularly cats. The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection stands at a notable 36% with 24.5% positive for IgG antibodies only, 1.8% positive for IgM antibodies while, 9.7% positive for IgG and IgM antibodies. The study found a significant association between T. gondii seroprevalence and a history of miscarriage, households with unimproved water sources and ownership of cats in the household. Multivariate analysis confirmed that participants who lived in households with unimproved water sources and those who owned cats were significantly more likely to have T. gondii seroprevalence. This study highlights a substantial seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among pregnant women in Taiz City, Yemen, emphasizing the importance of implementing preventive measures. Promoting access to safe drinking water, advocating for hygiene practices, and raising awareness are essential to mitigate the burden of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women.

Keywords

T. gondii Infection, Pregnant Women, Seroprevalence, Risk Factors, Toxoplasmosis, Maternal Health, Child Health

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© The Author(s) 2026. Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License which permits unrestricted use, sharing, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.