Toxoplasmosis in the children who afflicted with congenital deformities and chronic diseases

Abstract

Background:-Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by unicellular opportunistic parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. The disease can be very serious and even fatal in fetuses, newborns, and individuals with weakened immune systems, in addition to the risk of gestation complications and congenital problems.
Aims of the study:- The purpose of the present study to determine the relationship between Toxoplasmosis in the children who afflicted with congenital deformities.
Materials and Methods:- The eighty eight samples were collected (blood) from the children who afflicted with congenital deformities in Al Alwaiya Children's Hospital and used ELISA technique to determine IgM and IgG Toxoplasmosis, in addition to eighty eight apparently healthy children as a control group.
Results:- The results showed that among eighty eight children afflicted with congenital deformities there are 21 (23.86%) positive for IgM and 33 (37.50%) positive for IgG, while the results of IgM and IgG in the control group were 3 (3.14%) and 7 (7.95%) respectively with highly significant variation p=0.001.
Conclusion:- The present study showed there is a relationship between the infection by this parasite and congenital deformities. But it cannot be certain Toxoplasmosis is the real cause of congenital deformities in those children, and in the same time it doesn't deny the impact.