Evolution ROP18 gene expression of Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant and aborted women

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic protozoan infecting almost one-third of the world’s population. T. gondii rhoptry protein 18 (TgROP18) is a key virulence factor determining the parasite’s acute virulence and is secreted into host cells during infection. This study assessed the evolution of ROP18 gene expression in 192 cases that were categorized into 156 pregnant women, and 36 women with abortion. Out of the 156 pregnant women, 23 cases were positive for real time-PCR and out of all 36 aborted women, 16 of them were positive for real time-PCR investigation for toxoplasma gondii. The result showed the level of ROP-18 expression was higher significantly in pregnant when compared to pregnancy groups, 17.15 versus 7.11, respectively (p = 0.019). These finding also suggest high expression of ROP 16 gene in placenta than blood tissue.