Prevalence and Serological Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis in Two Regions (Karkh and Rusafa) of Baghdad Province

Toxoplasma gondii exhibits a global distribution and is among the highest common infectious parasite in Iraq. The current research aimed to assess the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis across various demographic groups in two regions of Baghdad, Karkh and Rusafa. Venous blood samples were taken from 450 male and female students, both pre-marital and married. Serum was obtained from each individual for the identification of specific anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM utilizing LAT, ELISA-IgG test, ELISA-IgM test, and miniVIDAS-IgG test. The overall percentage of seropositive anti-T.gondii antibodies by LAT 152 is 43.4%. The overall percentages of seropositive anti-T. gondii by ELISA-IgG and miniVIDAS-IgG tests were 80 (50.0%) each, with no significant variations observed between the findings of both tests. The seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies detected by the ELISA-IgM test was 2 (1.3%). Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in the results across different regions based on age groups using LAT, ELISA-IgG, and miniVIDAS-IgG tests. Conversely, no significant differences (P>0.05) were noted with ELISA-IgM in the age group of 19-23 years, which exhibited a high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis. Females exhibited a substantial increase in the percentage of seropositivity for toxoplasmosis compared to male students, as determined by LAT, ELISA-IgG, and miniVIDAS-IgG tests. The prevalence of T. gondii infection in pre-marital females was substantially higher at 52 (49.4%) compared to married females at 8 (7.6%), as determined by ELISA-IgG testing. The prevalence of T. gondii infection in pre-marital females was substantially higher at 49 (46.6%) compared to married females at 10 (9.5%), as shown by miniVIDASIgG testing. The largest percentages of toxoplasmosis were observed in aborted females, with ELISA-IgG showing 3 (37.5%) and miniVIDAS-IgG showing 4 (40%), in contrast to normal females, which exhibited 5 (62.5%) and 6 (60%), respectively.