Correlation between Toxoplasma gondii infection and spontaneous abortion in pregnant women: a case-control study / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To examine the correlation between Toxoplasma gondii infection and spontaneous abortion among pregnant women, so as to provide the evidence for the developmentofpreventivemeasuresforspontaneousabortion. Methods A total of 228 serum samples collected from women with spontaneous abortion for the first time from January 2018 to December 2019 were selected as the case group, while 228 serum samples collected from pregnant women with a normal delivery and without a history of abortion during the same period were selected as the control group. The serum IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii were detected and compared in both groups, and the correlation between T. gondii infection and spontaneous abortion was evaluated. Results There were no significant differences between the case and control groups in terms of age, education levels, occupation, residency and proportion of keeping cats (all P values > 0.05). The positive rate of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody was significantly higher in the case group than in the control group (adjusted χ2 = 4.08, P < 0.05; OR = 8.25), while no significant difference was seen between the case and control groups (χ2 = 0.42, P > 0.05). Conclusions Acute maternal T. gondii infection may remarkably increase the chance of spontaneous abortion. Progestational health education regarding toxoplasmosis prevention and control knowledge and detection of T. gondii infection during pregnancy should be strengthened.