Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in Jodhpur, India.

ABSTRACT

Toxoplasma gondii specific IgG and IgM antibody levels were determined in sera of 135 healthy human volunteers comprising of students (85), staff (50) and 115 patients comprising of 65 adults and 50 children whose blood was taken for some other investigations. None of the subjects had congenital disease or any other sign or symptom suggestive of Toxoplasmosis. None of the women had had obstetric history or gave birth to infants with congenital defects. Toxoplasma gondii specific IgG and IgM antibodies were assayed by ELISA. Sero positivity to one or both classes of antibodies was observed in 17.2%. However, active infection i.e. IgM positive or high (> 210 Eu/ml) level, IgG was observed only in 4.4%. Antibody levels and seropositivity rate increased with age. No statistically significant differences in the levels of antibodies were observed in relation to sex, socioeconomic status, place of living (rural/urban) and dietary habit (vegetarian/non vegetarian). However, relatively higher prevalence of seropositivity was observed in males and villagers.