Abstract:
To measure the prevalence of toxoplasmosis, we tested 204 pregnant women for IgG and IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii using an enzyme-linked immunoassay. The study was conducted in Hebron district during the year 2005. The seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to T. gondii was 27.9% while IgM seroprevalence was 17.6%; the seroprevalence of T. gondii increased with age. More women from rural areas [36.8%] had IgG antibodies to T. gondii than urban women [21.4%]. Possible routes of infection were contaminated soil, drinking rainwater and eating raw vegetables rather than eating uncooked meat or contact with cats. The prevalence of previous abortion was 37.3%, with a slight [but not statistically significant] association with toxoplasmosis
