Abstract:

The aim of this study is to compare toxoplasma seroprevalence in Syrian refugees and Turkish resident pregnant women and to evaluate the impact of large-scale migrations on the frequency of this disease. Methods: January 2012–January 2021 Kahramanmaraş Necip Fazil City Hospital Women’s Diseases and Birth Clinic in the first trimester of pregnancy requests for routine control of a total of 29,424 pregnancies between the ages of 15-45 were included in the work by scanning retrospective from the system. The anti-toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG values of pregnancies in the study group are divided into two groups as settled people and refugees. Each group is divided into 3 groups, 5-25 years old, 25-35 years old and 35-45 years old, and the results of refugees and settled people are compared both in general and in age groups. Results: In refugees, the toxoplasma IgM seropositivity has been shown to be higher than inhabited populations (2.7% vs. 1.6%; p=<0.05). Similarly, the seropositivity of IgG has been observed with a higher prevalence in the refugee group (64% vs. 41%; p=<0,05). According to age groups, this statistical difference has also been found to be preserved in distribution for both Toxoplasma IgM and Toxoplasma IgG. The result: In our opinion, it is seen that both the settlements and refugees have toxoplasma seropositivity above the global average. Seropositivity rates in refugees appear higher than in countries with routine scan programs. Therefore, it should be encouraged to perform routine toxoplasma screening in pregnancies, especially in the area where we are located.

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