Advanced Biomedical Research

Evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii B1 gene in Placental Tissues of Pregnant Women with Acute Toxoplasmosis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Research Center for Molecular Medicine; Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

2 Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

3 Department of Endometrium and Endometriosis Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

4 Department of Research Center for Molecular Medicine; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

5 Department of Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

6 Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

Abstract

Background: One of the consequences of toxoplasmosis is the risk of passing it from mother to fetus and the onset of congenital toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the B1 gene of Toxoplasma gondii in the placental tissues of pregnant women with acute toxoplasmosis. Materials and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study. Serum samples of pregnant women who attended to Fatemieh Hospital of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences were tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against T. gondii by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Then, polymerase chain reaction was used to identify the specific B1 gene of T. gondii in IgG seropositive women. The placental tissues of the pregnant women with positive serum B1 gene examined for this gene. Anti-Toxoplasma immunoglobulin M (IgM) was performed on the umbilical cord and neonate blood. Results: Anti-Toxoplasma IgG was detected in 167 out of 653 (25.6%) pregnant women. T. gondii B1 gene was identified in 36 out of 167 (21.6%) of IgG seropositive women. After delivery, the B1 gene was evaluated in 15 out of 36 (41.7%) patients' placental tissues, 13 of which were positive for this gene (86.7%). Anti-Toxoplasma IgM was detected neither in any umbilical cord nor in neonatal blood samples. All newborns, with the exception of one case, were born with normal birth weight and in term birth. Conclusion: The B1 gene was detected in 86.7% of the placental tissue of women who were involved in acute toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.

Keywords

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Advanced Biomedical Research
Volume 2018, August
August 2018
Pages 1-5