TOXOPLASMOSIS AMONG PREGNANT AND NON-PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING AL-SHIFA HOSPITAL IN GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE

The aim our study is to study the occurrence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant and non-pregnant in Gaza strip. In cross-sectional study 164 sample was collected from pregnant and non pregnant woman attending Al-shifa hospital. Quantitative investigation of each blood sample for the levels of the specific IgG and IgM of T.gondii was done for collected sample. The overall prevalence of Toxoplasma IgG was found 33.2% and Toxoplasma. IgM was found to be 21%. The highest rate of IgG (47.4%) was in age group from 35-45 years old and IgM was (40%) in age group 25 to 35 years old. The women residing in the East Gaza city had IgG (42.2%) but in IgM was(32.1%) in the women residing in the North and Midzone. The highest rate of IgG (57.1%) and IgM (42.9%) were noticed among the employed women. In conclusion the result of this study shows a significant high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis infection in pregnant women, and an important association with different socioeconomic factors. It is recommended that Toxoplasma gondii should applied as a routine test in Gaza and further studies to determine the reality of the definitive host infection (cats) in Gaza.