Estimation of Toxoplasma gondii infection by Serological and Immunohistochemical methods in Baghdad City-Iraq.

Toxoplasma gondii(T. gondii) is one of the most prevalent infectious agents in human andhas a worldwide distribution. The current study was conducted to estimate theseroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma Abs in800 apparently healthy persons of both sexesbyLatex agglutination test (LAT), and evaluate the serological methods (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay ELISA and Enzyme-linked Fluorescent Assay ELFA) and Immunohistochemical IHC technique in detection of T. gondii in135 spontaneously aborted and 13 induced aborted women. The LAT test indicated that 27.13% (217/800) were seropositive for anti-Toxoplasma Abs. No difference in the rate of infection between male (28.33%, 68/240) and females (26.61%, 149/560) was found. Toxoplasmosis was detected in 21.5% (29/135) and in 22.96% (31/135) spontaneously aborted women as investigated by ELISA and ELFA tests respectively. T. gondiiAgs were confirmed in the placentae of 25.2% (34/135) spontaneously aborted women when IHC technique was used. These results indicatethatthere is no relationship between Toxoplasmaseropositivity and the gender, but it increase with the age.The three methods ELISA, ELFA and IHC were all specific, but IHC was the more sensitive technique in detection of toxoplasmosis.see more