Association of positive toxoplasma antibodies with unfavourable fetal outcome

ABSTRACT

Antibodies against toxoplasma gondii were determined in 100 females. Venous blood samples were taken within 24 hours after their pregnancy termination. Cases were divided into 5 groups, each comprised 20 patients. The groups were congenital malformations, stillbirth, premature labor, mid- trimester abortion and a control group. Antibodies were detected by different histochemical techniques namely IgG- ELISA, IgM- ELISA and Immunofluorescence [IF] technique. A positive correlation existed between the IgG - ELISA and the IF test. The mean value of IgG antibodies and the mean titer of IE antibodies in the positive cases were found to be significantly higher in each of the congenital malformation group and the stillbirth group compared with that of the control. The percentage of positive cases were found to be higher in each of the 2 groups compared to the control with statistical significance only in the congenital malformations group. Although the mean levels of antibodies in the positive cases were higher in each of the premature and mid- trimester abortion group compared to the control, differences were insignificant statistically possibly due to the small number of positive cases. A single positive test is suggestive of infection but detection of a rising titer or value after 2 weeks is diagnostic