Microbial Pathogenesis 2018- Seroprevalence and hematological investigation of toxoplasmosis in female population of Lahore.

Toxoplasmosis is a wide spread zoonotic infection of warm blooded animals including humans all over the world. This infection caused by a Protozoon parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite completes its life cycle in both humans and cats. It causes severe congenital abnormalities such as hydrocephalus and mental retardation in infants. Keeping in view the importance of this parasite, the present study was designed to study the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis and to investigate the hematological changes in female population in Lahore. Fresh blood of females were used for analysis of hematological changes, while serum was analyzed to estimate the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis by using ELISA technique and all the information was collected with the help of questionnaire and analyzed to find out the risk factors. Overall prevalence in female population in Lahore was found 27%. Among pregnant and non-pregnant females prevalence rate was 31% and 24% respectively. Prevalence rate was higher in housewives as they are usually in direct contact with vegetables during food preparation T. gondii infection was found more in those who had contact with cats or any pet animal.