Interleukin-8 Level in Pregnant Women with Toxoplasmosis in Kirkuk City

A cross sectional study was carried out in Kirkuk city from 15 th of June 2018 to 15 th of December 2018. The study included 100 pregnant women and 50 healthy individuals. Their ages ranged between 17-45 years old who were admitted to Kirkuk general hospital.. Molecular tests for real-time PCR and serological testing for detection specific Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG and Interleukin-8 level by using ELISA technique was done for patients and control. The study showed that the highest rate of anti T. gondii IgM+ IgGantibodies (10%) was recorded among pregnant women compared with 8% in the control group, while 22% of pregnant women were IgM+IgG+ compared 6.5% of the healthy control group. The study revealed that 40.91% of pregnant women with positive ELISA was positive by PCR compared with 0% of patients with negative ELISA results. The study showed that the highest rate of T. gondii infection (diagnosed by PCR) were recorded among pregnant women at age group 27-36 year (22.55%) and the lowest rate was within the age group 17-26 year. The highest mean level of IL-8 recorded PCR +ve groups, in pregnant women (79.2 ±53.2 ng/ml) compared with PCR –ve groups. There was a highly significant differences of IL-8 between pregnant women and the control group. The study showed that the highest mean level of IL-8 (77.61±60.4 ng/ml), in pregnant at 2 nd trimester of pregnancy, followed by 3 rd trimester. This study was concluded that a highly elevation of IL-8 level was correlated Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women and real time PCR is golden method in diagnosis of toxoplasmosis.