EJMS

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasmosis when occurring during pregnancy can be transmitted to the fetus and lead to congenital toxoplasmosis (CT). Therefore, pregnant women are a risk group, for which it is necessary to determine the serologic profile Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the accuracy of IHA test in comparison to ELISA test in serodetection of T.gondii IgG and thus evaluate the ability of the two tests to diagnose the infection in an early stage of pregnancy to avoid the hazards of toxoplasmosis to the developing fetuses Material and Methods: This study was carried on 100 pregnant females who have risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis (women with previous history of repeated abortion, early rupture of membranes, and history of delivering a dead fetus). All pregnant females were interviewed using a structured questionnaire that investigates the risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis such as knowledge about transmission modes, contacts with cats, undercooked meat and viscera consumption, gardening or contact with soil and unwashed raw vegetables. The questionnaire also investigated the occurrence of complications during pregnancy like abortion, premature labor, IUFD and stillbirth. A Blood samples were taken from all the pregnant females during the first trimester. ELISA test and IHA test were performed for all cases, Positive and negative ELISA results were determined according to the manufacturer’s cut-off value, ELISA results were utilized as a gold standard. Results The IHA test gave a percentage of seropositivity (55%) in comparison to ELISA which gave a percentage of (60%). The sensitivity and specificity of IHA test were 90%, 95% respectively in comparison to ELISA. There were significant correlations between the seropositivity of T. gondii specific IgG antibodies in pregnant women and the most investigated risk factors and also with abortion. No significant association between T. gondii seropositivity and ingestion of undercooked meat and viscera was detected. Conclusion: Both ELISA and IHA are good screening tests and useful for seroepidemiological surveys as they are commercially available, safe, simple, easy technique and not time consuming.