Seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies among women of childbearing age in Zakho City, Kurdistan Region/Iraq

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis. That makes serious health problems among immunocompromised patients which comprise pregnant women as well. The present study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies among women of childbearing age and their associations to some demographic factors in Zakho City, Kurdistan Region/Iraq. Blood samples were collected randomly from 630 women aged 15-45 which were divided into subgroups (15-20), (21-26), (27-32), (33-38) and (39-45) years after taking their consent for the detection of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. A special questioner sheet was designed for the study containing full information about each participant. The diagnoses were done using ELISA-IgG and IgM kits and Rapid Test (RT) method. The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies was 78/630 (12.38 %), including 73 (11.58 %) for ELISA IgG, 4 (0.63 %) for ELISA IgM and 1 (0.15 %) for RT method. The age group 33-38 years and married females showed the highest seroprevalence of 19/93 (20.43 %), 67/535 (12.52 %), respectively using ELISA IgG. Statically there were significant relations regarding ages, educational status, contact with cats and consumption of undercooked meat. This investigation indicated that the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies among women at childbearing age is still a high rate. Furthermore, the association of some risk factors must be taken into consideration and this requires the introduction of health education programs to the community.

Keywords

• keywords: toxoplasma gondii; prevalence; elisa igg/igm; childbearing age; zakho/iraq