*Corresponding author: E-mail: hzakai@kau.edu.sa; Telephone: +966 0554334116; Fax: +966 12 6404065. Journal of Advanced Laboratory Research in Biology www.sospublication.co.in ISSN 0976-7614 ©we-together to save yourself society Is Toxoplasma gondii IgG seropositivity a predisposing factor for infertility? Haytham Ahmed Zakai 1* and Mazen Abid Bisharah 2 1* Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box-80324, Jeddah-21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract: Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Approximately one third of the world population is infected with this parasite. Several studies have examined the causes of human infertility in the Middle East. A high proportion of secondary infertility and a great contribution of the female factor was the major finding in most of these studies. In this study, we aim to explore the relation between Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and female infertile patients. Serum samples from 83 female patients visiting the infertility clinic and 57 normal prim gravid females attending the ANC clinic were collected during the year 2014. Serum samples were analyzed for anti-Toxoplasma IgG by chemiluminescent micro particle immunoassay (CMIA) technology. Patients visiting the infertility clinic, aged from 18-40 years (x=29.7) while normal prim gravid females attending the ANC clinic aged from 18-38 (x=26.1). Of the 83 samples collected from patients visiting the infertility clinic, 15 samples were positive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG while only 2 samples (out of 57) collected from normal prim gravid females attending the ANC clinic were positive. There was a statistically significant correlation between positive anti-Toxoplasma IgG and infertility (p<0.01). We suggest considering the presence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in serum of young females as an indicator for possible future infertility. Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, infertility, anti-toxoplasma, IgG. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 1. Introduction Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii [1,2]. Approximately one third of the world population is infected with this parasite [3]. Infection with Toxoplasma gondii is very common. Postnatal acquired toxoplasmosis is usually asymptomatic. However, clinical disease is greatly confined to risk groups, including infants and immunocompromised individuals. Congenital toxoplasmosis is seen in cases of the mother acquiring the infection for the first time during pregnancy. The incident of prenatal toxoplasmosis is estimated to vary from 1 to 100 per 10.000 births. Toxoplasmic encephalitis and disseminated toxoplasmosis have been reported in immunocompromised patients [2]. Level of seroprevalence for toxoplasmosis ranged from 8-77% worldwide. High seroprevalence for toxoplasmosis has been reported among pregnant women and women of childbearing age from different parts of the world, including the Middle East [2,3]. The prevalence of infection in Saudi Arabia showed wide variations as revealed from previous studies. The highest positivity rate was reported in Jeddah 61.4% [4], Al Hassa of 51.4% [5,6], 41% in Aseer [9], 38% in Riyadh [8], and 35.6% in Makkah [7]. Moreover, studies showed a relation between positivity for toxoplasmosis and female sterility. Furthermore, visual impairment, hearing loss and malignant neoplasms were major coincidental diseases in Toxoplasma gondii seropositive cases [10-13]. Several studies have examined the causes of infertility in the Middle East. A high proportion of secondary infertility and a great contribution of the Volume VI, Issue II, April 2015 Original Article