Frequency of Toxoplasma Infection Among Pregnant Women and Their Newborn in Kashan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) is the result of maternal infection if acquired during gestation, an infection that most often is clinically unapparent. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine acute and chronic toxoplamosis in pregnant women and its complications in newborn. Patients and Methods: In this cohort study, 798 pregnant women were tested for Toxoplasma IgG/IgM by ELISA. PCR and IgM were performed on 4 newborns of acute and 5 chronic maternal infections; they were followed for 1 year. Data were analyzed by SPSS-11.5 and χ2 test. Results: Five (0.63%) and 341 (42.7%) were positive for acute and chronic infections. A 400 bp band was seen in 3 newborns of acute maternal infections. The incidence of neonatal toxoplasmosis was 3.7 per 1000. Only one neonate of the acute maternal toxoplasmosis had jaundice. Conclusions: The rate of maternal and neonatal toxoplasmosis, were higher than the world. Jaundice was only sign in newborn with Toxoplasma gondii infection.