Seroprevalence And Molecular Detection of Toxoplasma Gondii among Women in Duhok Province/ Iraq

Abstract

Introduction: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic infection of human and animals caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The study aimed to detect the seroprevalence of anti T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies and their associated factors in addition to the molecular detection by conventional PCR in women in Duhok Province. Methods: In the current analytical study, 650 serum samples from women (388 aborted and 262not aborted), were collected randomly between November 2016 and March 2017 in Duhok Province. By using a commercial ELISA kit, IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii were estimated. In molecular study, DNA was extracted from seropositive samples, then by PCR, B1 gene was amplified and the product visualizes and sent to sequencing. Results: The study revealed that 28.0% (182/650) of women were seropositive against anti T. gondii IgG antibodies, while 0.46% (3/650) were seropositive against anti T. gondii IgM antibodies, and all the three cases were recorded among women who had contact with cats and seropositive IgG (70.7% vs. 29.3%) with significant difference (P<0.001). Beside to the contacting with cats, residency and occupation had a relationship with seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in women, in which housewives (61.4% vs 38.6%) with significant difference. (P<0.001) and women had lived in rural (69.8% vs. 30.2%) with significant difference (P<0.001) had a higher percentage of seropositive IgG than employee and women those lived in urban respectively, Only 5(8.3%). serum samples among 60 randomly selected samples from seropositive samples by ELISA were positive by PCR. Conclusions: The present study showed a considerable percentage of women having toxoplasmosis. The women have a low seroprevalence of IgM, but a higher seroprevalence of IgG antibodies. Contact with cats, residency and occupation have an important role in infection by T. gondii.