Prenatal Diagnosis of Toxoplasma Gondii Infection During Pregnancy Using Toxoplasma Gondii Igg/Igm, Igg Avidity Index Serology and Polymerase-Chain-Reaction (PCR): A Lagos Prenatal Diagnosis and Therapy Centre Experience

Background: Maternal Toxoplasma gondii infection during pregnancy can cause significant morbidity and mortality in the developing fetuses. But there is a little consensus about screening during pregnancy and the test used to establish a Toxoplasmosis diagnosis are complex. Objective: The objective is to determine the seropositivity rate of Toxoplasma gondii IgG/ IgM in maternal and fetal compartment and compare the fetal Toxoplasma gondii IgM result with polymerase-chain-reaction test (PCR) result. Setting: The outpatient of Prenatal Diagnosis and Therapy Centre laboratory of a University Tertiary Care Centre in Lagos. Design: A retrospective study. Method and Material: Prenatal Diagnosis Test including ultrasonography, maternal blood screening for Toxoplasma gondii IgG/IgM, amniocentesis and fetal blood sampling were performed in n =398 patients referred to rule out present or past Toxoplasma gondii infection. Amniocentesis was performed in 70 (78.65%) cases including a set of twin and cordocentesis in 19(21.35%) cases. The results obtained from a Toxoplasma gondii IgM positivity in Amniotic fluid and Cord blood were compared with the result of the PCR test on the 17 Toxoplasma gondii IgM positive in amniotic fluid and 5 Toxoplasma gondii IgM positive in cord blood. Congenital infection was found in 22 (24.72%) cases out of the 89 patients with IgG/IgM Toxoplasma gondiisero positivity. The PCR was positive in 20 (90.90%) out of 22 cases. Conclusion: Prenatal diagnosis using ultrasound, amniocentesis, cordocentesis, serology testing and PCR is relatively safe, reliable and accurate. It must be done by experienced personnel.