Diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women using automated chemiluminescence and quantitative real time PCR

Ehsan Ahmadpour; Elmira Zargami; Saba Rajabi; Paria Alizadeh; Yagoob Azadi; Mahmoud Mahami-oskouei; Adel Spotin; Abbas Shahbazi; Reza Bahaj; Firouz Shahrivar; Hossein Samadi Kafil; Aleksandra Barac

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Diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women using automated chemiluminescence and quantitative real time PCR

Author: Ehsan AHMADPOUR ¹ ; Elmira ZARGAMI ² ; Saba RAJABI ² ; Paria ALIZADEH ² ; Yagoob AZADI ² ; Mahmoud MAHAMI-OSKOUEI ³ ; Adel SPOTIN ³ ; Abbas SHAHBAZI ³ ; Reza BAHAJ ³ ; Firouz SHAHRIVAR ³ ; Hossein Samadi KAFIL ⁴ ; Aleksandra BARAC ⁵
Author Information

1. Infectious and Tropical Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
2. Students Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
3. Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
4. Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
5. Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Chemiluminescence immunoassay; Pregnancy; Real time PCR; Toxoplasma gondii; Toxoplasmosis
From: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 2019;12(1):14-18
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Objective: To identify serodiagnosis and quantification of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection among pregnant women in Salmas, northwest of Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 276 blood samples were collected from pregnant women referred to the health care centers in Salmas city. The demographic variables were also recorded. Titers of anti-Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies (Ab) were determined using the chemiluminescence immunoassay. Quantitative real-time PCR targeting the T. gondii repeated element gene was also performed on the blood sample. Results: Out of all, 19.92% (55/276) and 2.17% (6/276) patients were seropositive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM Ab, respectively. Moreover, the presence of T. gondii DNA was observed in 12.31% (34/276) blood samples. A significant relationship was observed between the IgG Ab seropositivity and contact with the cat as a risk factor (P=0.022). Conclusions: The seroprevalence rate of T. gondii infection in pregnant women is relatively low. Consequently, the seronegative pregnant women are at risk, and a considerable rate of positive blood samples for the presence of parasite's DNA should not be ignored. Besides, quantitative real-time PCR could be considered as an accurate method for diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis especially when the precise results are of the most importance in pregnancy. Limiting contact with cats is also suggested for pregnant women.