Detection of Toxoplasma gondii among healthy populations by different techniques in Erbil Province

الملخص EN

Toxoplasma gondii causes the foremost widespread protozoan infection with a broad variety of host range.

Toxoplasmosis in Immunocompetent person is usually asymptomatic but severe complications might occur in immunocompromised persons and life threatening congenital infections can develop during pregnancy.

This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of T.

gondii among healthy populations in Erbil City.

A total of 167 healthy participants were examined for the detection of T.

gondii in Erbil City from November 2017 to January 2018 by using Latex agglutination test and ELFA-IgM and IgG.

For collecting full information about the participants, a special questionnaire sheet was prepared and data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21.

Out of 167 samples examined 41(24.6%) were positive by LAT, 14(8.4%) were positive for IgG by Mini-Vidas and 26(15.6%) were positive for IgM by Mini-Vidas.

The prevalence rate of toxoplasmosis among females was (25.6%) which was higher than that seen among males (23.5%) but statistically insignificant.

High seropositivity (28.2%) was observed in age group 11-20.

Those who had contact with cats showed high percentage (25.7%) of infection, also in rural residents seropositivity was higher (30.8%) than urban residents (22.7%).

No significant differences were observed between those who consumed and non-consumed fast food.

Our study concluded that to reduce risk of toxoplasma infection in our community, it should avoidance direct contact with cat and soil, or consumes fast food, poultry or ordinary farm meat without sufficient cooking.