Unraveling the link: serological and molecular insights into Toxoplasma gondii infection in women with spontaneous abortion history.

Abstract

Background: Spontaneous abortion (SA) associated with infectious pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii during pregnancy poses a substantial health risk for pregnant women and is linked to transplacental infection of the fetus. This study was conducted to investigate the serological and molecular aspects of T. gondii genotyping in women who have experienced SA at various gestational ages. These women were admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Ali Ibn Abi Talib Zahedan Hospital between September 2021 and May 2024.

Methods: This study examined 163 women with a history of abortion. Blood samples were tested for specific anti-Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies using ELISA. In contrast, tissue samples from their aborted placentas were analyzed for molecular examination using nested PCR targeting the GRA6 gene.

Results: The results indicated that the women in the study ranged in age from 18 to 39 years, with 16% testing positive for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies: 9% had IgG, 4% had IgM, and 3% had both IgM and IgG. Subsequent nested PCR analysis of the placental tissue revealed that 7 cases (4.29%) were positive for the 529 bp fragment of T. gondii. Our data confirmed that five isolates belonged to type I, and two belonged to type II of T. gondii.

Discussion: The findings of this study suggest that screening programs for T. gondii significantly elevate the risk of miscarriage among pregnant women. Examining placental tissue for the molecular epidemiology and genetic variants of T. gondii linked to abortion is advisable to improve detection sensitivity.