ELFA IgG anti-Toxoplasma y PCR anidada para el diagnóstico de toxoplasmosis en mujeres gestantes de Sincelejo, Colombia

Abstract

IntroductionToxoplasmosis is a worldwide disease caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which can produce serious damage in immune compromised patients and congenitally infected newborns. Serological screening for T. gondii infection is not currently included in the routine prenatal control for pregnant women in the department of Sucre; moreover, techniques used for diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis do not show enough sensitivity in the detection of active cases of toxoplasmosis in order to offer opportune treatment and to reduce the consequences of this infection in the newborn. ObjectiveTo detect DNA of Toxoplasma gondii by nested PCR assay in peripheral blood samples of seronegative pregnant women from Sincelejo, Sucre. Materials and methodsNested PCR assay was done using DNA extracted from peripheral blood samples of 100 seronegative pregnant women by Elfa anti-Toxoplasma IgG assay from the city of Sincelejo, throughout a 17 month period. ResultsT. gondii DNA was detected in 12 of the 100 pregnant women included in this study. It was possible to follow 7 of them, and only 4 showed high titles of IgG antibodies obtaining an overall seroconversion of 57,1% in positive pregnant women by the PCR assay. ConclusionsThese results demonstrate the utility of a PCR test to detect Toxoplasma gondii DNA in peripheral blood samples of seronegative pregnant women by ELFA anti-Toxoplasma IgG test. This research also confirms the importance of combining serological tests with molecular techniques to improve the diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection.