THE EFFECT OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII SEROPOSITIVITY ON SIGNS an‎d SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE IN IRAQI WOMEN

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Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite, which has been associated with neurological and hormonal disorders, including: schizophrenia, depression, and suicidal behavior. The study aimed to investigate the association of T. gondii infection with signs and symptoms of menopause. We performed a crosssectional study of women attending the consultancy clinic of Al-Batool Teaching Hospital for Maternity and Pediatrics in Diyala province, Iraq, during the period from 1st October 2016 to 1st March 2017. Blood sample of 100 med-age women were examined for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. A face-to-face questionnaire including 24 symptoms and signs potentially associated with menopause was applied. Anti T. gondii IgG were found in sera of (19%) women studied, of them only 2 (10.5%) were seropositive for IgM. All of them were aged between 30-39 years. Breast pain significantly associated withseropositivity of T. gondii. Also the rates of irregular period, night sweat, vaginal dryness, vaginal infection, memory lapses, migraine, joint pain, low back pain, weight gain, arterial hypertension, hair loss and brittle nails insignificantly higher in seropositive women than seronegative women. There’s a high correlation between joint pain and seropositivity of T. gondii. In conclusion T. gondii exposure may result in a broader spectrum of signs and symptoms of menopause which requires a further investigation.

Toxoplasma gondii , menopause , Perimenopause , Iraqi women.

2018

ديالي للعلوم الزراعيه

ديالي للعلوم الزراعيه