Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women with previous adverse pregnancy outcome

ABSTRACT

Adverse pregnancy outcome include two or more consecutive spontaneous abortions, intrauterine foetal death, intrauterine growth retardation, low birth weight, stillbirths, early neonatal death and/or congenital anomalies. Maternal infections and infestations play a critical role in adverse pregnancy outcome. In Libya, scare data exist on the roles of Toxoplasma gondii [T.Gondii] in the etiology of adverse pregnancy outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of T. gondii in relation to previous adverse pregnancy outcome in pregnant women. We also aimed to find out the possible risk factors of acquiring this infection in Libyan women at Benghazi region. We included 143 pregnant women with adverse pregnancy outcome who attended Gynecology and Obstetric Department in Jamhoriya Teaching Hospital over a period of six months to estimate seroprevalences of IgM and IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Serum samples were collected and assayed using quantitative ELISA technique. Out of 143 serum sample, 64 [44.8%] were positive for Toxoplasma. IgM seropositivities to Toxoplasma were 8.4%. All of those with high IgG and IgM positive cases gave a positive history of habitual abortion. Further remarks were obtained and will be presented and stressed