Epidemiological study of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in the region of Setif, with analysis of serological prevalence and risk factors

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and identify associated risk factors among pregnant women in the Wilaya of Sétif, Algeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2025 and March 2026 using data collected from two laboratories involving 684 pregnant women, in addition to a questionnaire administered to 50 participants. The overall IgG and IgM seroprevalence rates were 34.06% and 0.73%, respectively, while 64.91% of women were seronegative and therefore susceptible to primary infection during pregnancy. Significant risk factors included a history of spontaneous abortion, consumption of undercooked meat, and the use of bottled water during summer. This work also integrated an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model to predict the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis using serological, demographic, and epidemiological data. The ANN showed excellent predictive performance, highlighting the potential of artificial intelligence in supporting early risk assessment and preventive healthcare strategies.