Toxoplasma gondii in women with bad obstetric history and infertility: A five-year study

Objective: To evaluate the role of Toxoplasma gondii in women with bad obstetric (BOH) history and in women with primary and secondary infertility. Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital for a period of 5 years from January 2004 to December 2009. Quantitative determination of IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii infection was done by IgM capture ELISA in patients with history of BOH or infertility. Results: Out of a total of 441 subjects included in the study, 417 (94.6%) had a BOH and 24 (5.4%) subjects had infertility. Toxoplasma was found to be more common in females with two or more abortions 52 (76.5%). Similarly in patients with infertility due to Toxoplasma, secondary infertility (66.7%) was more common than primary infertility. About 40.3% patients with BOH and 20% patients with infertility had healthy live issues after treatment with spiramycin. Conclusions: Toxoplasmosis is thus, an easily treatable cause of abortions and infertility. All antenatal females and females with infertility should be screened for toxoplasmosis.