Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among Aborted Women Admitted to Erbil Maternity Teaching Hospital

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite responsible for causing congenital toxoplasmosis. Congenital infection during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy may result in spontaneous abortion, mental retardation, and cerebral calcifications, while the severity of fetal damage is decreased during the third trimester. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis and its association with clinical-obstetric determinants and sociodemographic factors in aborted women. Materials and Methods: The present study was a Hospital-based Cross-sectional Study comprised 100 women who admitted to Erbil Maternity Hospital with a spontaneous abortion. A questionnaire was filled by the researchers after verbal consent, and 5 ml of venous blood was collected from each participant, centrifuged at 3500 rpm, and stored in 2 Eppendorf tubes, and tested by ELISA and Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay by Cobas e 411 for Toxoplasma IgG and IgM according to Manufacturer’s instructions. Results: The highest seroprevalence for toxoplasmosis was observed in illiterate females aged 26-35 and living in Erbil City's urban areas. A statistically significant association was recorded regarding seropositivity to Toxoplasma IgG and having a history of abnormal babies (P=0.023), Toxoplasma IgG seropositivity and a history of having toxoplasmosis (P=0.016), and seropositivity to Toxoplasma IgM and parity of the females (P=0.037). Conclusions: Screening for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy is crucial for all women for the prevention of disease progression. Although there are various screening methods for the detection of toxoplasmosis, not all the methods are applicable and financially suitable for the patients.