Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis in Pregnant Females Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Uttar Pradesh, India and its Effect on Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality.
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Date
2016-01
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Abstract
Objective: To document the seroprevalence of toxoplasma in pregnant females
attending a tertiary care hospital and to study its effect on perinatal morbidity and
mortality. Design: Prospective follow-up study. Setting: Queen Mary’s Hospital, a
tertiary level hospital affiliated to King George Medical University (earlier known
as KGMC), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Sample: All pregnant women coming to
this hospital for antenatal care in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Dept. Methods:
Pregnant females were selected through systematic random sampling. A pre-tested
semi-structured questionnaire was administered. Blood sample was drawn to detect
IgM and IgG antibodies against toxoplasma. Delivery outcomes were recorded with
reference to abortions, still births, delivery of congenitally malformed baby and
gestational age at delivery. Main outcome measures: Perinatal outcomes among
those positive for toxoplasma antibodies. Results: Out of 260 subjects screened,
23 (8.8%) were IgM positive and 40 were IgG positive (15.4%). IgM sero-positivity
was observed more in females aged >30 years, those ≥3 gravida, belonging to low
socio-economic status, Muslims, those predominantly non-vegetarian and those
exposed to raw meat. Still births (17.4% vs. 3.8%; p=0.006), congenital abnormalities
(8.7% vs. 0.5%; p=0.002) and abortions (17.4% vs. 2.7%; p=0.001) were more common
in those positive for IgM antibodies compared to sero-negatives. Conclusions:
Toxoplasma infection plays a role in adverse foetal outcome. Socio‑epidemiological
aspects constitute an important contributing factor for the spread of the disease. All
pregnant women should be educated and counselled for Routine serological testing
for toxoplasma-specific antibodies.
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Keywords
Toxoplasma, TORCH, IgM, IgG, Pregnant females, Tertiary care hospital, India
Citation
Singh Meenakshi. Ranjan Rajesh, Pradeep Yasodhara, Quereshi Sabuhi, Sahu Meenakshi. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis in Pregnant Females Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Uttar Pradesh, India and its Effect on Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality. Acta Medica International. 2016 Jan-June; 3(1): 50-55.