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Screening for toxoplasmosis in pregnancy.
A A al-Meshari1, M N Chowdhury, S K Chattopadhyay
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, King Saud University Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Summary
This study evaluated five serological tests for toxoplasma antibodies in pregnant women. The latex agglutination test (LAT) is recommended for routine toxoplasmosis screening due to its cost-effectiveness and ease of use.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- Toxoplasmosis is a significant parasitic infection with potential risks during pregnancy.
- Accurate and efficient serological methods are crucial for diagnosing toxoplasmosis in pregnant populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the sensitivity, specificity, and agreement of five serological tests for detecting toxoplasma antibodies in pregnant women.
- To identify the most suitable methods for routine screening and specific IgM detection of toxoplasmosis.
Main Methods:
- Sera from 386 pregnant women were tested using Latex Agglutination Test (LAT), two Indirect Hemagglutination Tests (IHAT), Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA), and Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT).
- IFAT was used as the reference test to evaluate the performance of other methods.
- Specific IgM detection was assessed using IFAT, EIA, and immunosorbent agglutination assay.
Main Results:
- The Latex Agglutination Test (LAT) demonstrated suitability for routine toxoplasmosis screening, being cost-effective and easy to perform.
- Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) showed high specificity (99%) for detecting specific IgM antibodies, making it a satisfactory option when equipment is available.
- The incidence of toxoplasmosis varied between 25.4% and 36.3% based on the serological method employed.
Conclusions:
- LAT is a practical and effective choice for routine toxoplasmosis screening in pregnant women.
- EIA is a highly specific method for both IgG and IgM detection, recommended for routine screening if available.
- Accurate serological testing is vital for managing toxoplasmosis risk in pregnant women, with method selection impacting incidence rates.