Abstract
Objective: To highlight the possible effects of toxoplasmosis on serum activities of liver enzymes. Methods: Sixty serologically toxoplasmosis positive women referred to the Public Health Laboratory Centre in Nineveh Province were enrolled during the period from Oct. 2008 – March 2009. Their ages ranged between 16-35 years and mean±SD (24.9±4.8 years). Cases were compared with 40 age matched apparently healthy high school, medical college students and employees of Mosul College of Medicine control women who were serologically negative for toxoplasmosis; their ages ranged between 17-35 years and mean ± SD (23.9± 5.5years). Serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured in all cases and controls. Results: Liver enzymes activities were higher in patients compared with those of the controls. Conclusion: A probable involvement of the liver in the disease process was noticed for the toxoplasmosis patients although not sufficient to produce clinical signs and symptoms of liver disease.
Highlights
It was reported that cholestatic jaundice may be due to Toxoplasma gondii infection [11], other reports suggested that toxoplasmosis could be associated with abnormal liver function tests, round cell infiltration in the portal areas, cholestasis, swollen endothelial cells and/or focal necrosis of liver cells [12]
ELISA test was considered positive for IgM antibody to Toxoplasma gondii if the Toxo M index was 1.00 or greater indicating the probability of current or recent toxoplasmosis
The significantly elevated serum activities of aminotransferases in the serologically positive cases of toxoplasmosis in this study are in agreement with several studies (2831)
Summary
Many human and animal studies concerned with the involvement of the liver in cases of toxoplasmosis were published as early as 1965(7). It was reported that cholestatic jaundice may be due to Toxoplasma gondii infection [11], other reports suggested that toxoplasmosis could be associated with abnormal liver function tests, round cell infiltration in the portal areas, cholestasis, swollen endothelial cells and/or focal necrosis of liver cells [12].
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