[Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in amniotic fluid using quantitative real-time PCR method]

The infection caused by parasite Toxoplasma gondii is often asymptomatic or a mild clinical disease. Congenital toxoplasmosis is the result of transplacental transmission of Toxoplasma gondii from an acute infected mother. Toxoplasmosis can cause several fetal symptoms. Early diagnosis of the infection can enhance the success of the medical treatment. Congenital toxoplasmosis can be detected by serological or PCR amplification methods.

The authors decided to develop a quantitative real-time PCR technique for detection of T. gondii in amniotic fluid samples.

DNA was isolated using silica adsorption method. Quantitative real-time PCR method was used to detect T. gondii infection in the samples.

From the studied 74 samples in 6 cases T. gondii was detected.

The introduced quantitative real-time PCR method is a fast and sensitive PCR based method and makes possible the quantification of the protozoa number in the sample.