| ABSTRACT
Background: Toxoplasmosis is well known as an important infection in pregnant
women. Although many serologic methods are available, diagnosis of early Toxoplasmosis
may be extremely difficult. Objective: To detect the Toxoplasma IgG antibodies
developed at the early stage of infection in pregnant women. Methods: 225 pregnant
women, who were in the 2nd to 4th month of their pregnancy, enrolled in this study.
Anti-toxoplasma IgG, IgM and IgG avidity were evaluated by ELISA method. Results:
The patients were categorized into three groups as follows: Group A, 124 cases; IgG+,
IgM+, 55.1%; group B, 99 cases; IgG+, IgM-, 44%; and group C, 2 cases; IgG -, IgM +,
0.9%. Fifty five percent of the pregnant women had positive IgG and IgM among which
7.1% had low avidity which revealed an active infection in the pregnant women. In the
current study, 44% of pregnant women had positive IgG and negative IgM, all of which
had high avidity, which is an indication that in our population the level of toxoplasmosis
infection is high and most women have had contacts with this parasite before pregnancy.
Conclusion: In this study, the low avidity test was 7.1% showing that the occurrence
of toxoplasmosis infection is still a serious issue. Observation of 45.8% high avidity
among group A suggests that either IgM has a high half-life or there is a false positive
IgM as a result of rheumatologic disorders. Therefore, avidity test is important in
predicting maternal toxoplasmosis which is of value in disease treatment. |