Seroprevalence and detection of Toxoplasma gondii and Echinococcus granulosus in humans by indirect immunoglobulin G enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in Baghdad

Abstract

The present study was conducted from December 2021 until April 2023 at the College of Health and Medical, Al-Bayan University, Iraq, in Baghdad province, to detect the infection of Toxoplasma gondii in humans and identification by serological methods. Field studies were conducted from 1500 sera samples from hospitals and private medical laboratories. The sera samples were separated and examined by indirect ELISA IgG for the human kit to detect the infection with Toxoplasma gondii serologically. The serological results showed that 62% were positive. The present study recorded a high rate of infection in pregnant women at 70.4% (526/747) and then non-pregnant women at 53.6% (404/753). The serological results in males showed 57%, while the females showed 65.1%. It was noted non-significant difference. According to age groups 30-39 years, the high rate of infection was 90.2% (415/460), whereas the lowest infection among age groups < 20 years was 25.1% (83/330). However, serologically tested sera samples were positive for Echinococcus granuloses; 7.8% of 192 sera samples from humans were tested. Regarding the age group, the rate of infection was 10.2% (5\49) from <20 and >29 years, while from >30 to >39 years was 6.6% (3\45) and >40 years was 14% (7\50) with a high significant difference with Echinococcus. According to gender, the percentage of infestation in males was 5.7% out of (6\104) sera samples, while in females was 10.2% out of (9\88) sera samples with a highly significant difference (P≤0.01). Finally, regarding the months, the peak infection rate was recorded in March.