ABSTRACT

Infection with Toxoplasma gondii usually does not cause clinical symptoms in humans, but an acute infection during pregnancy can lead to congenital toxoplasmosis. Infection in early pregnancy may cause abortion, stillbirth or serious abnormalities of the fetus. In this study, determination of T. gondii seroprevalence among women of childbearing age who presented to our hospital’s clinics is aimed.

Toxoplasma IgM antibodies were investigated in 5013 sera and Toxoplasma IgG in 2986 sera of women between 15-49 years, in our hospital central laboratory, between 01 November 2008 and 31 August 2010.

Eighty-nine (1.8%) seras were detected positive for Toxoplasma IgM and 968 (32.4%) for Toxoplasma IgG antibodies.

It has been determined that 67.6% of women in the province of Antalya and its surroundings are susceptible to acute Toxoplasma infection during childbearing age and their babies are an at risk group for congenital toxoplasmosis.

Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, seroprevalence, childbearing age