SEROPREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN BAGHDAD CITY

Abstract

The current study is one of the prime investigations to evaluate the prevalence rate of T. gondii among pregnant women in Baghdad city and to consider some of the environmental and personal factors that may contribute to infection. Serum samples of 212 pregnant women of 18 to 33 years of age attending the Maternity hospital in Baghdad were tested for anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serological results, reflecting T. gondii prevalence rate, were statistically analyzed and linked to epidemiological data collected through a standard questionnaire. The seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG was 28.77 % (61 out of 212), whereas IgM seropositivity was 23.8 %. The highest IgG and IgM seroprevalence were among participants aged 26 to 33 years (31.3 % and 9.1 % respectively). No statistically significant relation was observed between T. gondii seroprevalence and the other variable factors studied. The current study indicates that there is a considerable rate of Toxoplasma infection among pregnant women in Baghdad and support the concern that Iraqi women may be vulnerable to that infection. Moreover, it shows the need to provide health education to pregnant women in order to prevent primary infection during pregnancy