Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis and Rubella in pregnant women in Afyon region

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the presence of toxoplasma and rubella seropositivity in pregnant women in our region, and to clarify necessity of the routine screening. Materials and methods: We screened 20. gestational age and below pregnant women for Toxoplasma and Rubella IgM-IgG antibodies who had been admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department in our University in 2010 and 2011. Rubella, Toxoplasma antibodies and avidity tests in the serum of patients were measured with an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) method using VIDAS (BioMerieux, France) kits. Results: Rubella IgM antibodies (n = 10) were detected as positive in 1.8% of samples and the IgG antibody seropositivity rate (n = 465) was found to be 92.5%. The Toxoplasma IgM antibody positive rate was 1.6% (n = 9) and the IgG seropositivity was 22.7% (n = 119). For 18 patients which were Rubella IgM positive and/or limit value, was found high avidity and IgG seropositivity. We also found IgG antibodies to be positive in 7 of 9 patients with positive Toxoplasma IgM and 7 patients with a positive limit value. Conclusion: Because of the high degree of Rubella seropositivity in pregnant women in our region, strategically screening for Rubella is considered unnecessary. However, we can still scan for Toxoplasma gondii due to the high seronegative rates. However, not all pregnant women, only high risk pregnancies, should be screened for IgM antibodies for toxoplasmosis.