Seroepidemiological Study of Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most widespread parasites in nature and the importance of the parasite to obstetricians lies in the fact that although the great majority of infants born to mothers acquiring toxoplasmosis during pregnancy are asymptomatic, effects such as abortions, early infant mortality and blindness are known to be associated with this zoonosis, when mothers are infected during the first and second trimesters. A good number of congenital malformations occur without knowing the specific cause and toxoplasmosis is one disease that causes congenital malformation. Humans are infected with T. gondii through accidental ingestion of raw or undercooked meat, by consumption of food or water contaminated with cat oocysts or congenital transmission of tachyzoites. The infection in pregnant women is mainly asymptomatic and undiagnosed but can be transmitted to the fetus and produce congenital infection and during pregnancy can result in fetal death, neonatal death or various congenital defects, such as hydrocephalus, central nervous system abnormalities and chorioretinitis.