Prevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection among women with miscarriage and their aborted fetuses in the northwest of Iran

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide disease of various animals and human and results from infection with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite. Abortion and congenital defects are important consequences of the T. gondii infection. The aim of this study was to determine the Toxoplasma-induced abortions among women with miscarriage and the presence of T. gondii in their aborted fetuses in Urmia, the northwest of Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 215 women with abortion and their aborted fetuses, from 2020 to 2021. Seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM were determined using the sera of the aforesaid women. Nested PCR was carried out using RE-529 gene sequences, and sequencing was performed using the T. gondii GRA6 gene on the remnant of pregnancy after abortion. The tissue positive samples were then subjected to another PCR on GRA6 gene and sequenced for genotyping. Among 215 serum samples of women with abortion, 70 (32.6%) were positive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG, and three (1.4%) were positive for IgM. The RE-529 sequence of T. gondii was positive in three (1.4%) of the aborted fetuses. The analysis of GRA6 gene indicated that all three positive samples carried a GRA6 allele (GRA6I) of T. gondii type I genotype. Our findings suggest that T. gondii is one of the causative agents of spontaneous abortion in West Azerbijan Province, the northwest of Iran.

Exploring Possible Causes Linked to the Recent Upsurge in Toxoplasmosis Cases in Sudan's North Kordofan State

“…Infectious factors account for approximately 10-30% of miscarriages, with Toxoplasma gondii infections accounting for 5% of early abortions and 66% of late abortions. The underestimation of abortion incidence may occur, nevertheless, due to the low rates of diagnostic testing for infections during pregnancy [9,10]. In contrast to previous research in this area, however, the prevalence in this study appeared to be quite low.…”

“…Abortion and congenital malformations result from T. gondii infection. Congenital toxoplasmosis can cause abortion, neonatal death, or fetal abnormalities [7,8]. Unfortunately, there is a lack of available data from Sudan pertaining to toxoplasmosis, despite the fact that a significant incidence of the disease is observed in the daily practices of women seeking abortions.…”

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies and Associated Risk Factors Among Women in Zakho City, Iraq

“…This finding is somewhat consistent with two previous studies in this city; both studies reported the highest seroprevalence of anti- Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies among those aged 33-45 and 31-35 years, respectively [ 9 , 26 ]. Furthermore, studies from other countries also reported the highest rate of IgG seropositivity among middle ages: 25-32 years in Pakistan [ 27 ], 36-45 years in Duhok [ 23 ], 33-40 years in Nigeria [ 28 ], and 31-40 years in Iran [ 29 ].…”

Relationship between toxoplasma IgG avidity levels and abortion risk

“…As soon as the sporulating oocyst is ingested by an animal, the oocyst turns into tachyzoites which will be present in nerve and muscle tissue. When tachyzoites cannot be eliminated by immunity, it only takes a maximum of eight hours to turn into bradyzoites and then into cysts, this cyst stage will develop in the human body after the animal's flesh is eaten (Zeinali et al, 2023).…”