ABSTRACT

Detection of specific IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) tests are not always sufficient in the diagnosis of early and late Toxoplasma gondii infection during pregnancy. For this reason, the specific IgG avidity test should be used to detect primary toxoplasmosis infection. In this study, an investigation was made of the serological status of pregnant women who were suspected of having primary or late toxoplasmosis as well as the importance and relationship of specific anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies and specific IgG avidity in their sera. TORCH panels were also used for these patients. A total of 52 pregnant women who were admitted in the Dokuz Eylül University Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic were included in this study. The sera were sent to the serology and immunology laboratory for investigation of the anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies by the EIA (Cobas Core, Roche, Germany and ETI-TOXOK-A, DiaSorin, Germany) technique. The anti- Toxoplasma gondii IgG avidity test was performed on IgG as well as IgM and/or IgA in positive sera with the EIA (Toxoplasma IgG Avidity EIA Well- RADIM, Italia) technique. The anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG avidity test was not performed on sera from 21 pregnant women negative for anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies. Borderline and high IgM levels showed a good correlation with the IgG avidity results. The ratio for the IgM and IgA positivity was 32.3% and both the IgM positivity and IgA negativity were 29%. In conclusion, anti- Toxoplasma gondii IgG avidity and anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM antibody tests should be used together. However, positivity or high avidity of IgA was limited in the diagnosis of active toxoplasmosis infection of pregnant women.

Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG, IgM and IgA, IgG avidity, EIA, peregnant women