Replication Data for: Seroprevalence, Risk Factors and Impact of Toxoplasma gondii Infection on Haematological Parameters in the Ashanti Region of Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract: Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate, intracellular, apicomplexan parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. Although the global prevalence of toxoplasmosis has been estimated to be approximately 30%, there is limited seroprevalence data in Ghana, with dearth of information on the impact of T. gondii on haematological parameters in exposed persons. Method: Questionnaires were administered to 300 consenting individuals to obtain demographic information and assessment of their risk of exposure to T. gondii. Participants were asked to donate 3 mL of venous blood for serological testing and full blood counts. Using anti-T. gondii IgG/IgM combo test kit, seropositivity to parasite-specific IgG and/or IgM was determined. A haematological analyzer was used to measure haematological parameters. Results: The participants included 58 males and 242 females, and ranged in age from 6 months to 84 years, with a mean age of 27 years. There was an overall seroprevalence of 50.3% (n=51), with 50% (n=150) of the study participants seropositive for IgG and 1% (n=3) testing positive for IgM. Furthermore, the observed seroprevalence among pregnant women was 56.4% (n=62). With regards to the different communities in which the hospitals were located, a seroprevalence of 55.6% was observed in the rural community, 50.6% in the peri-urban community and 47.1% in the urban community. The study identified cat ownership, contact with cat litter [RR (95% CI: 1.76 (1.23-2.53), 1.66 (1.03-2.67), 1.25(1.00-1.57)] and age (p<0.001) as risk factors for infection. Analyses of haematological data revealed significant differences in the red blood cell counts (p=0.038) and mean corpuscular volumes (p=0.0007) of seropositive and seronegatives. Conclusions: About half of the study population, including a significant number of women of reproductive age carried antibodies against T. gondii, raising questions about the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis. In addition, there were significant differences between seropositive and seronegative individuals in terms of red blood cell count and mean corpuscular volume, though the functional significance of these findings is still unclear at this time. We, therefore, recommend that screening for Toxoplasma gondii be included in the routine screening of pregnant women seeking antenatal care and future studies investigate the impact of T. gondii infection on haematological parameters.