Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection amongst pregnant women in Assam, India.

Toxoplasma gondii infection during pregnancy is a causative factor for foetal loss and congenital infection of the newborn. Reports of prevalence of this parasitic infection among pregnant women from northeast India are scanty. Therefore a seroprevalence study covering 180 pregnant women attending Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) Dibrugarh was conducted during 2003-2004. After written informed consent and approval from the Institutions ethical committee 180 antenatal cases (17-40 years with a median age of 24.5 years) were enrolled with or without history of pregnancy wastage and screened for IgG and IgM antibody against T. gondii using EIA kits (Pathozyme Toxo IgG and IgM kits). (excerpt)