Anti-Toxo-IgG (IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii)

Brief description of the study "IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii" The causative agent - Toxoplasma gondii - is a protozoan. The life cycle of the pathogen takes place inside the cells of the host organism. The final host of the parasite - infected cats and other representatives of the feline family excrete a special form of toxoplasma - oocysts - with feces. Oocysts are resistant in the external environment. Oocysts that have entered the body of the intermediate host (rodents, birds, cattle, humans) continue their life cycle in muscle and other tissues of the body, where pseudo- and true cysts are formed. Infection is possible: when eating uncooked meat products, tasting raw minced meat (pseudo- or true cysts); when eating poorly washed vegetables and failing to observe sanitary and hygienic standards when in contact with domestic animals (oocysts); from mother to fetus, if the woman is infected during the current pregnancy (tachyzoites parasitizing in blood macrophages). The fetus is not infected during subsequent pregnancies. Transmission of the pathogen from person to person is excluded! Toxoplasma is not excreted from the human body in any form. If a pregnant woman is infected in the first trimester, spontaneous termination of pregnancy is possible; the probability of infection of the fetus is no more than 15%, but the severity of neurological defects and the risk of chorioretinitis in the fetus are higher if the infection occurred in the woman in the first trimester of pregnancy. In infected newborns, congenital toxoplasmosis often manifests itself as a generalized lesion. In case of infection in the third trimester of pregnancy, the probability of infection of the fetus increases to 65%, in this case, congenital toxoplasmosis manifests itself late. In people with normal immunity, toxoplasmosis usually occurs without clinical manifestations (in a latent form). When the immune system is suppressed, the disease can manifest itself in acute (the most severe), subacute or chronic (the mildest) forms. Toxoplasmosis is characterized by: lymphadenopathy (especially cervical lymph nodes), fever, myalgia, headache, less often - hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Almost any organ system can be affected. Anemia, leukopenia, relative lymphocytosis, an increase in the number of eosinophils are detected in the peripheral blood. Acute toxoplasmosis in people with reduced immunity threatens the development of encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, basal arachnoiditis. Laboratory diagnostics play a leading role in the recognition of toxoplasmosis. When examining pregnant women, primary infection is determined by an increase in the titer of specific antibodies by three or more times. Detection of specific IgM and an increase in the IgG titer in the blood of a pregnant woman confirms primary infection with toxoplasmosis. Such pregnant women, regardless of the presence or absence of clinical manifestations, are subject to urgent treatment in order to prevent infection of the fetus. Determination of IgM plays a decisive role in diagnosing toxoplasmosis in newborns, since specific IgG, unlike IgM, can be transmitted to the fetus from the mother. High sensitivity of the analysis allows diagnosing the early stages of the disease, which is especially important for patients with immunodeficiencies and for infants, whose antibody levels in the blood are usually very low. IgG antibodies are present in the blood in acute, subacute, chronic and latent forms of toxoplasmosis. They are usually detected after 3-4 weeks from the moment of infection and are then detected throughout life. They perform a protective function and prevent re-infection in the vast majority of cases.

Rules for preparation for the study "IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii" No special preparation is required. It is recommended to take blood no earlier than 4 hours after the last meal.