Prevalence of toxoplasma antibodies among women with BOH and general population in Delhi.

One thousand and thirty-six serum samples obtained from women with bad obstetric history (BOH) were subjected to detection of toxoplasma antibody by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) using whole promastigotes of Rh strain of Toxoplasma gondii as antigen. Thirtyone (2.99 per cent) samples were found to be positive (titre greater than or equal to 1:64). Of these 31 patients' sera 27 (87.09 per cent) showed rising titre of antibody when second samples were drawn after 4 weeks. Two hundred serum samples from general population were also assayed and only 2 (1 per cent) were found to be having toxoplasma antibodies in titre of 1:64. The observations suggest low prevalence of toxoplasmosis in and around Delhi which is in consonance with the food habits of local people and their infrequent contact/association with cats.