Screening for the Detection of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> IgG, IgM and IgA in Females of Reproductive Age from Western Romania
<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, a zoonotic protozoan parasite, has the capacity to infect the fetus if the pregnant woman primarily acquires the infection during pregnancy. We evaluated the prevalence of <i>T. gondii</i> IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies in women of reproductive age resi...
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Life |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/12/11/1771 |
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| author | Alin Gabriel Mihu Maria Alina Lupu Alexandru Nesiu Daniela Teodora Marti Tudor Rares Olariu |
| author_facet | Alin Gabriel Mihu Maria Alina Lupu Alexandru Nesiu Daniela Teodora Marti Tudor Rares Olariu |
| author_sort | Alin Gabriel Mihu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, a zoonotic protozoan parasite, has the capacity to infect the fetus if the pregnant woman primarily acquires the infection during pregnancy. We evaluated the prevalence of <i>T. gondii</i> IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies in women of reproductive age residing in Western Romania. We also assessed the value of adding a <i>T. gondii</i> IgA test to the serologic panel for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, including the detection of a recently acquired infection. Serologic testing to demonstrate the presence of <i>T. gondii</i> IgG antibodies was conducted in 1317 females aged 15–45 years. <i>T. gondii</i> IgM and IgA antibody tests were performed in those with detectable IgG antibodies and IgG avidity test was performed if IgM and/or IgA screening test results were positive. <i>T. gondii</i> IgG were detected in 607 (46.09%; 95%CI: 43.41–48.79) of 1317 study participants and IgG seroprevalence tended to increase with age from 35.44% (95%CI: 29.89–41.30) in age group 15–24 years to 62.85% (95%CI: 56.57–68.82) in age group 35–45 years, showing a significant age-associated increase (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Of the 607 persons with detectable <i>T. gondii</i> IgG antibodies, <i>T. gondii</i> IgM antibodies were demonstrated in 8.90% (95%CI: 6.88–11.43), <i>T. gondii</i> IgA in 1.65% (95%CI: 0.90–3.01) and both <i>T. gondii</i> IgM and IgA in 0.99% (95%CI: 0.45–2.14). The prevalence of IgA antibodies tended to decrease with increasing avidity, from 75% (95%CI: 19.41–99.37) in samples with low avidity to 11.76% (95%CI: 4.44–23.87) in those with high avidity (<i>p</i> = 0.01). Of the study participants who were positive for both <i>T. gondii</i> IgM and IgA antibodies, 66.67% had low or equivocal IgG avidity test results compared to 6.25% who tested positive for IgM, were negative for IgA and in whom low or equivocal IgG avidity test results were noted (<i>p</i> = 0.001). This study indicates that in Western Romania, <i>T. gondii</i> IgG seroprevalence is high in females of reproductive age and <i>T. gondii</i> IgA antibodies may be rarely detected during a serologic screening. However, in individuals with demonstrable <i>T. gondii</i> IgG and IgM antibodies, testing for <i>T. gondii</i> IgA may improve the rate for the detection of a recently acquired toxoplasmosis. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-2d73df196ce548cdaf5ae560df8a07bb2023-11-24T05:30:42ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292022-11-011211177110.3390/life12111771Screening for the Detection of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> IgG, IgM and IgA in Females of Reproductive Age from Western RomaniaAlin Gabriel Mihu0Maria Alina Lupu1Alexandru Nesiu2Daniela Teodora Marti3Tudor Rares Olariu4Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDiscipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDepartment of Biology and Life Sciences, Vasile Goldis University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 310025 Arad, RomaniaDepartment of Biology and Life Sciences, Vasile Goldis University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 310025 Arad, RomaniaDiscipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, a zoonotic protozoan parasite, has the capacity to infect the fetus if the pregnant woman primarily acquires the infection during pregnancy. We evaluated the prevalence of <i>T. gondii</i> IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies in women of reproductive age residing in Western Romania. We also assessed the value of adding a <i>T. gondii</i> IgA test to the serologic panel for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, including the detection of a recently acquired infection. Serologic testing to demonstrate the presence of <i>T. gondii</i> IgG antibodies was conducted in 1317 females aged 15–45 years. <i>T. gondii</i> IgM and IgA antibody tests were performed in those with detectable IgG antibodies and IgG avidity test was performed if IgM and/or IgA screening test results were positive. <i>T. gondii</i> IgG were detected in 607 (46.09%; 95%CI: 43.41–48.79) of 1317 study participants and IgG seroprevalence tended to increase with age from 35.44% (95%CI: 29.89–41.30) in age group 15–24 years to 62.85% (95%CI: 56.57–68.82) in age group 35–45 years, showing a significant age-associated increase (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Of the 607 persons with detectable <i>T. gondii</i> IgG antibodies, <i>T. gondii</i> IgM antibodies were demonstrated in 8.90% (95%CI: 6.88–11.43), <i>T. gondii</i> IgA in 1.65% (95%CI: 0.90–3.01) and both <i>T. gondii</i> IgM and IgA in 0.99% (95%CI: 0.45–2.14). The prevalence of IgA antibodies tended to decrease with increasing avidity, from 75% (95%CI: 19.41–99.37) in samples with low avidity to 11.76% (95%CI: 4.44–23.87) in those with high avidity (<i>p</i> = 0.01). Of the study participants who were positive for both <i>T. gondii</i> IgM and IgA antibodies, 66.67% had low or equivocal IgG avidity test results compared to 6.25% who tested positive for IgM, were negative for IgA and in whom low or equivocal IgG avidity test results were noted (<i>p</i> = 0.001). This study indicates that in Western Romania, <i>T. gondii</i> IgG seroprevalence is high in females of reproductive age and <i>T. gondii</i> IgA antibodies may be rarely detected during a serologic screening. However, in individuals with demonstrable <i>T. gondii</i> IgG and IgM antibodies, testing for <i>T. gondii</i> IgA may improve the rate for the detection of a recently acquired toxoplasmosis.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/12/11/1771<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>serologyscreeningwomen of reproductive ageantibodies |
| spellingShingle | Alin Gabriel Mihu Maria Alina Lupu Alexandru Nesiu Daniela Teodora Marti Tudor Rares Olariu Screening for the Detection of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> IgG, IgM and IgA in Females of Reproductive Age from Western Romania Life <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> serology screening women of reproductive age antibodies |
| title | Screening for the Detection of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> IgG, IgM and IgA in Females of Reproductive Age from Western Romania |
| title_full | Screening for the Detection of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> IgG, IgM and IgA in Females of Reproductive Age from Western Romania |
| title_fullStr | Screening for the Detection of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> IgG, IgM and IgA in Females of Reproductive Age from Western Romania |
| title_full_unstemmed | Screening for the Detection of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> IgG, IgM and IgA in Females of Reproductive Age from Western Romania |
| title_short | Screening for the Detection of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> IgG, IgM and IgA in Females of Reproductive Age from Western Romania |
| title_sort | screening for the detection of i toxoplasma gondii i igg igm and iga in females of reproductive age from western romania |
| topic | <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> serology screening women of reproductive age antibodies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/12/11/1771 |
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