Seroprevalence of toxoplasma antibodies among the antenatal population in Bangladesh.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasma antibodies toxoplasma IgG and toxoplasma IgM) among an antenatal population in a hospital of Bangladesh.


METHODS
Sera from 286 pregnant women were tested for toxoplasma IgG antibody by applying enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Among the 286 sera, 88 sera were randomly selected and tested for toxoplasma IgM applying ELISA.


RESULTS
Among 286 patients 110 (38.5%) were positive for toxoplasma IgG antibody and among 88 patients only one (1.1%) was positive for toxoplasma IgM. The seroprevalence gradually increased with age and parity. The seroprevalence of antibody was higher among the women in poor (53.0%) than the upper socio-economic class (22.0%) and among the women with jobs (55.0%) than the housewife group (35.0%).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that toxoplasmosis is endemic in Bangladesh and also affecting pregnant women. There is need for further detailed studies on toxoplasmosis and its influence on perinatal morbidity and mortality.
Ashrafunnessa
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Postgraduate Medicine and Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Khatun
S
S
Islam
M N
MN
Huq
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004651:Employment; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D012923:Social Class; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M