Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite and represents a public health problem. This study revealed the presence of T.gondii among 91 couples of husbands and wives in Ramadi city who were examined for the presence of antibodies against T.gondii using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Anti- T. gondii IgM and IgG antibodies in both couples were 38.4%, the seroprevalence in wives was 30.7%, while it was 13.1% in husbands. The study showed that abortive women and abnormal pregnancy had the highest percentage rates (35.7% vs. 57.14%) of toxoplasmosis among those of 26-30 years old and the lowest was among those 36-40 yeas old. One miscarriage was 50% higher than the other groups. The group of 26-30 years old showed high rate of IgM antibodies of about 66.66%. The number of abortion in the first trimester was high in both patterns of antibodies IgM only and IgM and IgG being 62.5% and 29.16%, respectively. Analysis of variance revealed that there were no significant interactions between IgM and IgG seropositivly and the gestational age of the foetus.
Key words: Toxoplasma gondii, Pregnancy, couples, Seroprevalence
|
