EVALUATION OF Toxoplasma gondii SEROPREVALENCE AND IGG AVIDITY TEST RESULTS AMONG CHILDBEARING-AGE WOMEN IN KARABUK PROVINCE

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic infectious disease that is common worldwide and caused by the Toxoplasma gondii. Congenital toxoplasmosis is one of the major complications of this infection. The present study aimed to investigate T.gondii seroprevalence and evaluate the IgG avidity test results among childbearing- age women retrospectively. A total of 9401 samples obtained from childbearing -age (15-49 years of age) women who attended Karabuk University Training and Research Hospital between February 2016- January 2020, over the four-year, were included in the study.The Toxoplasma-IgM, Toxoplasma-IgG antibody, and Toxoplasma IgG avidity tests were analyzed chemiluminescent method by using ARCHITECT I 2000 SR immunoassay device (Abbott Laboratories, USA). Toxoplasma-IgM and Toxoplasma-IgG seropositivity were detected as 0.7% (67/9401) and 15.7% (1415/9005) respectively. A high percentage of Toxoplasma-IgM and Toxoplasma-IgG seropositivity were detected among 31-35 years of age group. The Toxoplasma seropositivity increased by age, but no statistically difference was found (P >0.05).The Toxoplasma IgG avidity was high in 45 patients (69.4%), low avidity was detected in 16 patients (22.6%) and from the remaining 6 patients were borderline (8%). The Toxoplasma IgM and IgG seropositivity rate decreased 2016 to 2020. The highest Toxoplasma IgM and IgG seropositivity were in 2016 with 1.2% and 16.8%, respectively. The T. gondi seropositivity rate was decreased from 2016 to 2020; it is probably a result of increasing awareness of the disease among patients. We think our results will contribute to the epidemiological data in our province and country and raise awareness.