Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among ocular infection patient in Shahid Dr. Aso Hospital in Sulaimani City, Iraq

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that causes ocular toxoplasmosis with most complications such as developing eye lesions and impaired vision. During the period from October 2021 to April 2022, a total of 174 blood samples were taken from ocular infected patients whom visited Shahid Dr. Aso Hospital in Sulaimani City, Iraq. These samples were tested serologically for detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies (IgG and IgM) with both imunochromatograhpy (rapid test) and ELISA. The serological test demonstrated that 63 IgG (36.2%) and 4 IgM (2.2%) were positive by rapid test imunochromatograhpy. While, 80 IgG (45.9%) and 2 IgM (1.1%) were positive by ELISA. Most of the infections (58.75%) were between 50-69 years old. All patients (80) were examined for intraocular toxoplasmosis lesion, only 10 patients (12.5%) including 2 males (2.5%) and 8 females (10%) had ocular toxoplasmosis lesions. Most of the lesions were scars (old type) while, in some patients they were active lesions. The types of lesions, numbers per each eye, lesion diameter and comparison with the IgG and IgM titers were demonstrated