Investigation of toxoplasma antibodies seroprevalence in Samsun region

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is one of the most common agent of parasitic infections in human and animals (especially cats). The incidence of human infections varies in different populations between the rates of 20-70%. In this study, T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were screened by ELISA method in 2619 subjects who attended to various clinics of Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine between April 1996-February 1998 and the seropositivity rates were evaluated by means of age and sex. Of 2619 sera, 451 (17.22%) were found positive for IgG class antibodies and 26 (0.99%) were positive for IgM class antibodies. Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibody positivity rates were 8.31% and 0.85% in children and 20.55% and 1.05% in adults respectively. The rates of IgG and IgM antibody whereas positivites were found 18.05% and 1.12% in females whereas 15.11% and 0.67% in males respectively.