Serum Caspase 3 and Lysozyme level in abortive Iraqi Women Infected with Toxoplasma gondii and Urinary Tract Infections

Toxoplasmosis is one of a number of worldwide diseases which is related to abortion. Many researchers had attempted to find the exact factors that can lead to abortion. This study was aimed at focusing on other factors which may direct pregnant women towards abortion.

This study included 75 abortive Iraqi women and 25 apparently healthy pregnant women as control group. All participants were subjected to several immunological tests (caspase-3, lysozyme, IgG and IgM) as well as urine test (for the isolation and characterization of aerobic bacteria).

The results demonstrated that most early abortions occurred due to infection with Taxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), whereas abortion in the latter stages of pregnancy occurred due to the urinary tract infection (UTI). S.aureus was the most prevalent bacteria isolated from abortive women infected with UTI or in combination with toxoplasmosis. The most prevalent immunoglobulin was IgG, and all groups recorded increase in the concentration of caspase-3 at all three trimesters of pregnancy, particularly in women dealing with T. gondii infection only (223±10.7, 229±14.07 and 226±11.75) ng/ml with non-significant differences. Also, a significant increase in the level of lysozyme which again was recorded across all study groups, especially in women infected with T. gondii and UTI (22±1.57, 16±0.74 and 15±0.47) ng/ml.