Prevalence of Toxoplasmosis during Pregnancy in Bint Al-Huda Teaching Hospital in Al-Nasiriyahcity-Iraq

Toxoplasmosis (TP) is a zoonotic disease results from infection with toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), a primary parasite, requiring more than one host type to complete its cycle of life. T. gondii, primarily an intestinal parasite in cats, contains a wide range of intermediate hosts involving mice and sheep. A descriptive analytical study was conducted to assess the prevalence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women, and to find out relationship between prevalence of toxoplasmosis and some variables (age of women, occupation, residency, gravida, para, gestational age), with a purposive sample of 702 women who attended Bint AL-Huda teaching hospital in Al-Nasiriyah city. The toxoplasmosis infection was detected in 702(16.5%). The toxoplasmosis chronic infection prevalence was of 87(13%). The prevalence of maternal acute infection was of 25(3.6%), suspected by IgM antibodies detected in the peripheral blood. These results show an elevated prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in the governorate of Al-Nasiriyah, Iraq. It is recommended that more studies should be conducted in Al-Nasiriyah governorate, and educational courses on toxoplasmosis and how to avoid it for women of child-bearing age in primary health centers and hospitals, even if required in preparatory schools, because the infection carries serious consequences for mother and child. If infection occurs during pregnancy, early diagnosis should be done and treated.