Serological Detection of Human Toxoplasmosis by using IgG and IgM Antibodies Among Suspected Individuals from Selected Regions of Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence rate of human toxoplasmosis using IgG and IgM antibodies to identify potential risk factors from selected regions of Pakistan.

Methodology: A total of 352 suspected individuals were included in the study, with clinical and demographic data collected retrospectively from medical records (2019–2023) and blood samples collected between January 2024 and December 2024 from Rawal General and Dental Hospital, Islamabad. Serological testing for T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies was performed using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). The data were analyzed using SPSS, applying the chi-square test to determine associations, with a significance level of p < 0.05.

Results: This study discovered that the prevalence of Toxoplasma varied by age and gender, occurring in those aged ≤10 years and >40 years at rates of 11.5% and 17.6%, respectively (p-value = 0.031). The prevalence of toxoplasmosis infection was higher in females (12.9%) than in males (7.8%) (p-value = 0.030).

Conclusion: Toxoplasmosis remains a significant public health concern in urban areas of Pakistan, particularly among vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and older adults. These findings highlight the need for routine screening and preventive measures. Further multicenter studies are recommended to validate these findings and identify additional risk factors like foodborne transmission, environmental exposure, cat contact, demographics, etc.

Keywords: Epidemiology, IgG, IgM, Seroprevalence, Toxoplasma gondii, Toxoplasmosis.