Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in Iraqi Women with Breast Cancer by Real-Time PCR

A cross-sectional study was carried out in Kirkuk city from 15 th of June 2018 to 15 th of December 2018 to detect of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in sera of women with breast cancer by real-time PCR and comparing the results with IgG and IgM toward T. gondii. The number of breast cancer women understudy were 35. The ages of the patients were between 20-75 years old. These patients admitted to Kirkuk oncology center. The control group were included 50 healthy individuals. blood was collected from each patients and control for molecular tests of T. gondii using real-time PCR and serological testing for detection specific Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG by using ELISA technique. The study showed that the highest rate of anti T. gondii IgM+ IgGantibodies 8.57% was recorded among women with breast cancer comparing with 8% in healthy control while 14.29% of women with breast cancer were IgM+IgG+ comparing 6% of the healthy control group. The highest rate of total T. gondii antibodies by ELISA 68.57% was noted among women with breast cancer and the lowest rate was among healthy control 20%. The study revealed that 54.17% of women with breast cancer with positive ELISA was positive by PCR comparing with 9.09% of patients with negative ELISA results. The result was highly significant with sensitivity and specificity of 54.17% and 90.09% respectively. The highest rate of anti T. gondii IgM+ IgGantibodies 66.67% women with breast cancer was positive by PCR followed by 40% of patients with IgM+ IgG+ antibodies. It was concluded that Toxoplasma gondii more frequently associated with breast cancer and PCR was more accurate in detection of the parasite.