Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among women and ewes in Kirkuk city

Abstract

This study was conducted in Kirkuk city during the period from October 2020 to March 2021. The study aims to study the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women and ewes. Toxoplasmosis is a common disease between humans and animals and diffused throughout the world by 30-60%, caused by a single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasmosis is a parasite disease that causes a variety of major health concerns in pregnant women. Miscarriages and congenital abnormalities in fetuses are caused by this condition. It may also affect the neurological system and the brain’s important functions. In Iraq, the prevalence of the Toxoplasma parasite in pregnant women and sheep was measured, and the association between the pathogen and abortion was investigated. According to the findings, the condition is prevalent in 51 percent of pregnant women and 41 percent of ewes. The findings revealed a link between the frequency of abortions in pregnant women and Toxoplasma gondii infection, with the greatest infection rate of 38 percent for women who had three abortions, whereas the highest risk of abortion in sheep was 43 percent for one abortion. The study also found that women between the ages of 25 and 40 are the most susceptible to infection, with a 40% infection rate, while the highest risk of infection in sheep was 58 percent for the age group 1-2. In addition, the results illustrated a relationship between sheep infection with Toxoplasma gondii and the presence of congenital malformations in aborted fetuses. In other words, the rate of infection among sheep that aborted deformed fetuses was 89.5%. The relation between the level of the hormone’s progesterone and oestrogen in infected women was studied. It was noted that the ratio of the two hormones was higher in those who were infected than in healthy women, where the proportion of progesterone was 20 mg/ml, while the proportion of estrogen was pg/ml 92.5.