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Malaria is a major worldwide public health problem. In the last years, no domestic cases of malaria have been detected and cases of imported malaria exist only in Turkey. In this study, clinical and laboratory findings of five Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) malaria patients who were admitted to the emergency department between January 2013 and December 2015 were retrospectively presented. One of the patients was an African student, and the other patients had a history of travelling to Africa. Ring formation was observed when Giemsa staining was performed on the blood smears of all patients, and in three patients, P. falciparum was also detected using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (Bio-Rad, United States of America). P. falciparum was not detected by PCR in the other two patients. Malaria should be primarily considered in febrile patients who have a history of travelling to endemic regions, and peripheral blood smears should definitely be examined.

Objective: Leishmaniasis is caused by an obligate intracellular protozoa belonging to Leishmania genus and listed among major tropical diseases by WHO. Because of the high costs, toxicity, and adverse effects of routinely used compounds in the treatment, alternative treatment and vaccine studies are underway. An effective vaccine has not been developed to date. In this study, we aimed to clone one of the most promising DNA vaccine candidates: the homolog-activated C kinase (LACK) gene of Leishmania infantum., Methods: L. infantum genomic DNA was isolated from promastigote culture. The LACK gene was placed into plasmid pJET1.2. Then, recombinant plasmids were transformed into competent cells. The presence of recombinant plasmids was determined by PCR screening. Cloning was confirmed by PCR, restriction enzyme assays, and finally, DNA sequence analysis, after making miniprep from positive colonies., Results: After performing PCR with LACK-gene specific primers, 939-bp PCR products were observed. Recombinant plasmids, which were transformed into competent Escherichia coli cells, were verified by PCR screening. It was verified by PCR that the recombinant plasmid contained the LACK gene. DNA sequence analysis was performed to obtain the DNA sequence., Conclusion: One of the most promising DNA vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis, the LACK gene, was cloned in this study.

Microorganisms colonize tissues and organs such as the skin and gastrointestinal, respiratory, and genitourinary systems. These microorganisms are generally called as "human microbiota". Human microbiota mostly consists of commensal microorganisms. The commensal microorganisms located on and in the human body are bacteria, fungi, viruses, archaea, and parasites. The microbiota genome is 100 times bigger in size than the human genome. Although the human genome is stationary, microbial genome has a compatible flexible variability during human life. As well as 2-year-old child and newborn, adult and adolescent, the elderly and pregnant woman have a different microbiota. Microbiota and the microbiota genome can be changed by personal and household diet, antibiotic use, mode of delivery, and hygiene within days or even hours, depending on such as these factors. The human immune system and microbiota grow up, develop, and mature as childhood friends by playing with each other from birth to death. Association between microbiota and human is not just related to childhood-it continues with health and disease, until death separates them. This review focused on the roles of microbiota in parasitology, autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases, and cancer treatment in detail. In addition, inflammatory and immunoregulatory roles of microbiota on the intestinal immune system and how innate and adaptive immune systems regulate microbiota and its content were explained.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Entamoeba gingivalis and Trichomonas tenax in periodontitis and gingivitis patients., Methods: The study consisted of 107 periodontitis patients and 68 gingivitis patients. Bacterial plaque samples were collected with a curette from the deepest pocket in each quadrant and placed into separate tubes containing sterile 0.9% saline solution. Samples were examined at a magnification of ×400 by light microscopy. Cultivation for T. tenax was performed using the same samples, and the cultures were examined after 48 hours., Results: E. gingivalis was present in the samples from 38 periodontitis patients, whereas T. tenax was present in samples from only 3 periodontitis patients. Both E. gingivalis and T. tenax were found together in the samples from 2 periodontitis patients. In total, 22 and 2 gingivitis patients were found to be infected with E. gingivalis and with T. tenax, respectively. Only 1 gingivitis patient was found to be infected with both E. gingivalis and T. tenax., Conclusion: In our study, oral protozoa were found in a high percentage in periodontitis and gingivitis patients. We believe that the prevalence of E. gingivalis and T. tenax should be determined via new studies and, in particular, the protection principles should be complied with.

Objective: Toxoplasma gondii, which is observed in our country and worldwide, can cause mortality and is an important public health problem because of engaging babies from pregnant women. An effective vaccine against toxoplasmosis has not yet been developed. SAG1 protein is released from the bradyzoites and tachyzoites stages of T. gondii and is important at the pathogenesis of the disease. This study aimed to clone a promising DNA vaccine candidate, SAG1 gene, of T. gondii., Methods: T. gondii genomic DNA was isolated from tachyzoites of T. gondii. SAG1 gene was amplified with specific primers and then cloned into the pJET1.2 vector. Recombinant plasmids were transformed into Escherichia coli cells. The presence of recombinant plasmids was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening. Following the purification of the recombinant plasmid from positive colonies, cloning was confirmed by PCR, restriction enzyme assays, and DNA sequence analysis., Results: After PCR with SAG1 gene-specific primers, 1010-bp PCR products were obtained. Recombinant plasmid, which was transformed into competent E. coli cells, was verified by PCR screening. Moreover, PCR verified that the recombinant plasmids contained the SAG1 gene. The DNA sequence was analyzed, and the DNA sequence was obtained., Conclusion: One of the promising DNA vaccine candidates against toxoplasmosis, SAG1 gene, has been cloned.

In this study, a case who starting abundant watery diarrhea on the 14th day of renal transplantation is presented. Stool sample was analyzed for Cryptosporidium spp. by carbol fuchsin staining method, copro-ELISA and nested polimeraze chain reaction (PCR). From sample found positive by Carbol-fuchsin staining method and Copro-ELISA, DNA sequence analysis was performed, gel-purified from amplicon obtained by nested PCR. As a result of DNA sequence analysis was determined to be Cryptosporidium parvum. Although C. parvum is a rare causative agent of gastroenteritis it can be cause serious clinical diarrhea solid organ transplantation patient. As a result, also C.parvum must be considered as a causative agent of diarrhea occurring after organ transplantation.

Objective: Malaria is the primary parasitic cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. As a result of the expansion of international travel in recent years, imported malaria cases especially are increasing in our country. Likewise, while there were more domestic cases earlier in Kayseri, more imported cases were seen in recent years. In our study, the epidemiology of malaria cases between the years of 2001-2013 is intended to be done with the data obtained from the Provincial Health Directorate., Methods: The data was performed retrospectively., Results: Considering the last 12 years of data; a total of 34,459 blood samples were analyzed and 47 of these cases were found to be malaria, 21 cases were domestic and others were imported cases of malaria. P. vivax was detected in all domestic cases. While one of the imported cases have been identified as P. malariae, others were P. falciparum., Conclusion: We believe that our study of the epidemiological data would be beneficial for taking preventive cautions and fight against malaria.

All microsporidia are obligate parasites and have no active stages outside their host cells. Microsporidia lack some typical eukaryotic characteristics. There are now over 1200 species identified in 144 genera. The most familiar stage of microsporidia is the small, highly resistant spore, the size of which differs according to the species and is often 1-10 μm. The general life cycle pattern of the microsporidia can be divided into three phases: the infective or environmental phase, the proliferative phase, and the sporogony or spore-forming phase. There are several methods for diagnosing microsporidia: light microscopic, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunofluorescence assays (IFA) and molecular methods. The clinical course of microsporidiosis depends on the immune status of the host and site of infection. Microsporidia can cause infections such as diarrhoea, keratitis, myositis, bronchitis and brochiolitis. Human microsporidiosis represents an important and rapidly emerging opportunistic disease, occurring mainly, but not exclusively, in severely immunocompromised patients with AIDS. The treatment of microsporidiosis is generally achieved with medications and supportive care. Depending on the site of infection and the microsporidia species involved, different medications are utilized. The most commonly used medications for microsporidiosis include albendazole and fumagillin.

Objective: Different sub-types or genetic variations of Blastocystis sp. are thought to play a role in the differential symptoms caused by the parasite or asymptomatic cases. In this study, it was aimed to clone a fragment of SSUrDNA gene of Blastocystis from a patient in order to define its phylogenetic subtype., Methods: In this study, DNA isolation from the stool of a Blastocystis infected patient was performed. Blastocystis specific primers were used to amplify a SSUrDNA genomic fragment. The amplified DNA fragment was cloned into a plasmid and sequenced using plasmid specific primers. The obtained DNA sequence was analyzed using BLAST and a phylogenetic tree was constructed using the software MEGA., Results: It was found that the Blastocystis isolate in our study is subtype 3., Conclusion: Cloning and sequencing of the target genomic region is suggested for phylogenetic analysis studies.

Objective: Alveolar echinococcosis is an uncommon parasitic disesae confined to the Northern Hemisphere. There is limited data regarding the incidence of the disease in Kayseri., Methods: Clinicopathologic features of the cases with the diagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis reviewed between 1980-2010., Results: Twenty-nine cases of alveolar echinococcosis were found. There were no significant distribution differences during the study period. 28 of the 29 cases were localised in the liver, whereas one case was localised in the omentum. Sixteen of the 29 cases were male (55%) and 13 were female (45%). The age distribution of these cases varied between 33 and 80. Thirteen cases resided in Kayseri, 2 cases resided in Erzurum, 1 each case resided in Adana, Ardahan, Kars, Niğde, Nevşehir and Yozgat. We could not obtain information from the remaining 8 cases. Abdominal pain was the main symptom in 8 cases, jaundice in 2 cases and fatigue and fever in one case on admission. One case was detected incidentally. All of the cases were diagnosed by histologic examination., Conclusion: The data about the alveolar echinococcosis is limited due to its low prevelance. Alveolar echinococcosis cases were detected in Kayseri with a lower incidence than in the East Anatolian region. This report will add data about the incidence of the alveolar echinococcosis.

Alveolar echinococcosis is a parasitic infectious disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis, which is one of the two most important species of Echinococcus. Foxes are significant reservoir hosts in Europe. AE is an endemic disease in Turkey and is particularly common in people living in the eastern Anatolia region. The disease is a very aggressive and potentially fatal infection which always affects the liver primarily, develops as a tumor-like lesion and metastasizes to any part of the body. Diagnosis of AE is often difficult and almost always only possible in the later stages of the disease. Surgical resection and liver transplantation, as life-saving treatments, are accepted treatment options for early and advanced disease. The records of 162 cases of AE in Turkey, 24 case reports in the form of a separate report, were published during the 2000-2010 period. Most of these cases came from eastern and southeastern Anatolia (86.24% of cases). Their ages ranged from 23 to 71 years (mean age: 45.72±8.99). 62.20% of the cases were females. AE was located mainly in the liver (95.03%). Thus, radiological and serological screening studies for the public in this region may increase the possibility of surgical treatment for AE.

Objective: Cystic echninococcosis (CE) is an important helmintho-zoonotic disease causing health-threatening and economic losses for developing countries. In this study, anti-Echinococcus granulosus antibodies were evaluated in 1556 CE suspected patients (701 males, 855 females) who applied to the serology laboratory of the Parasitology Department of Erciyes University between June 1999 and July 2010., Methods: Fifty-six (3.6%) patients were evaluated with the three different methods of Indirect Hemagglutination Test (IHA), Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) and Western blot (WB). 378 (24.3%) were tested with both IHA and IFAT, 123 (7.9%) with both IHA and WB,and 999 (64.2%) were evaluated with one of these three methods., Results: In 353 (22.7%) patients, anti-E. granulosus antibodies detected by one of above three methods were considered as positive., Conclusion: Since some patients were assessed either as negative or positive with one of above test, we believe that it should be safer to use at least two tests together for diagnosis of CE.

Objective: Pediculosis capitis is a worldwide public health concern, and today, head lice are seen in all socio-economic levels. The infestation usually occurs by head-to-head contact and children, primarily girls, aged 3-12 years are mostly affected. In the present study a total of 405 pupils (214 boys and 191 girls) from two pre- and primary schools in the Kayseri-Hacılar region were examined for pediculosis capitis during March 2010., Methods: Lice and/or eggs were detected by visual examination of the children's hair., Results: Out of 405 children, 44 (10.9%) were infested with head lice. There were significant differences between the schools and the gender while no significant differences could be found between infestation and child's age, education of the parents, income of the family, housing type, source of water, and the presence or absence of a bathroom., Conclusion: Head lice remain a public health problem and more emphasis should be given to the education of parents regarding their biology and control.

Objective: Toxoplasmosis is a major health problem in both developed and developing countries. Infection is transmitted to humans by consumption of raw or undercooked meat containing tissue cysts and by ingesting foods contaminated with oocysts from the feces of infected cats and felidae. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the incidence of T. gondii antibodies in 347 high school students from 28 different countries studying in Kayseri city., Methods: These students had ages ranging between 15 and 21 (average: 17.52 ± 1.36). Serum samples were researched by IFAT for T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies., Results: 81 (23.3%) students were found to be seropositive for IgG, and 6 (1.72%) of students were positive for both IgG and IgM. There was no IgM seropositivity in IgG negative serum specimens. IgG avidity test was also done for 87 subjects who were found to be seropositive for anti-T. gondii IgG. The results indicated that 8 (9.2%) patients have equivocal range avidity and 79 (90.8%) patients have high avidity., Conclusion: As a result, this disease, which is important in children and adolescents, can lead to severe disease staes. Therefore, in various regions, especially in the pediatric age group, sero-prevalence tests and necessary measures are needed in high sero-prevalent areas.

Objective: Parasitic infections are an important health problem which affect children more than adults. Especially in growth-age children, this leads to problems such as malnutrition, malabsorption, growth retardation and learning disabilities. In this study, 328 students who were investigated in two primary schools between the ages of 6 and 14 in Kayseri-Hacılar region were analyzed for intestinal parasites., Methods: Stool samples were analyzed by light microscopy for the detection of helminths and protozoon using the native-lugol method. Cellophane tape samples were also analyzed by light microscopy for the detection of Enterobius vermicularis and Taenia spp., Results: At least one or more intestinal parasite species were found in 116 (35.4 %) children. The distribution of parasites which were detected in stool samples was as follows; Blastocystis hominis, 77 (23.5%); Enterobius vermicularis, 35 (10.7%); Giardia intestinalis, 14 (4.3%); Entamoeba coli, 15 (4.6%); Endolimax nana, 6 (1.8%); Hymenolepis nana, 1 (0.3%); Iodamoeba butschlii, 1 (0.3%)., Conclusion: Parasitic diseases are a major public health problem and we believe that education about personal hygiene, sanitation rules and parasitic diseases is important to overcome this problem.

Intestinal parasites are important health problem especially in undeveloped or underdeveloped countries with low socio-economic status,. In this study, stool and cellophane tape samples were analyzed for intestinal parasites in 192 foreign students who were came from 28 different countries and attending a high school with the age of 15 to 21 (age mean: 17.92 ± 1.30) in Kayseri. At least one or more intestinal parasite species were found in 73 (38 %) of them. The distribution of parasites which were detected in stool samples as follow; Blastocystis hominis; 63 (32.8%); Giardia intestinalis, 13 (6.7 %); Endolimax nana, 8 (4.1%); Entamoeba coli, 7 (3.6%); Iodamoeba butschlii, 1 (0.52%). There was no any parasite in cellophane tape samples.

Human Toxocara canis infections are seen all over the world, especially in temperate and tropical climate regions. Dogs are known to be reservoir hosts in transmission of the disease. Because puppies are infected both transplacentally and by breast milk, they add huge amounts of eggs daily to the environment with their stools for months. It is known that the human is not a natural host of T. canis and larvae do not mature in the human body. However, after getting into the human they migrate through visceral tissues and act like a foreign body in the places where they come to rest. In this study, anti-T. canis IgG antibodies were investigated by ELISA in 61 (54.6%) males and 51 (45.5%) females making a total of 112 patients aged between 1 and 68 years (average:18.54+/-24.5) presenting at our laboratory from different services of our hospital. Anti T. canis IgG antibodies were found to be positive in 24 (21.4%) patients.

This study was performed on a mixed breed street cat whose immune system had been suppressed by cortisone. Necropsy following the cat's death indicated the presence of hepatized areas of 1-1.5 cm sizes located in whole lung lobules. The samples prepared for histopathological examination confirmed verminous pneumonia. The agent causing the pathology was determined to be Aelurostrongylus abstrusus.

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a coccidian parasite that may be the agent of persistent and prolonged diarrhea. In this study, the etiologic agent of diarrhea in 18, 26 and 34 year-old immunocompetent female patients complaining of diarrhea was investigated. Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts were observed in stool specimens taken from the patients and stained by the Kinyoun's acid-fast stain method. In this study, an attempt has been made to shown the importance of Cyclospora cayetanensis, which is a cause of prolonged diarrhea mainly in immunosuppressed patients and is generally presented in case reports in our country.

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii and can be found in humans, domestic animals and wild animals almost everywhere around the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among the 628 prisoners in the Kayseri Closed Prison. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were investigated in the serum specimens with the IFA method. Two hundred and thirty six (37.58%) prisoners were anti-T. gondii IgG seropositive and 11 (1.75%) were both IgG and IgM seropositive. There was no IgM seropositivity in IgG negative serum specimens.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by a protozoon, Toxoplasma gondii. Its prevalence varies according to geographical status, age, eating habits and life style. The aim of this study was to determine seropositivity of Toxoplasma gondii in women who presented at the Kayseri Obstetric and Children Hospital. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies were investigated with the microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) method in sera of 2235 women from August 2005 to December 2008. It was found that Toxoplasma seropositivity was 33.42% and that increases in the seropositivity rate is statistically significant in regard to the increase in age (p<0.05).

In this study carried out from January 2005-June 2008, a total of 28,911 stool samples were examined using native-Lugol and flotation/sedimentation methods and 7,164 cellophane tape preparations were examined directly. Intestinal parasites were found in 6,975 (24.13%). Of the patients, 52.90% were female and 47.10%, male. Blastocystis hominis, 5,701 (19.72%); Entamoeba coli, 910 (3.15%); Giardia intestinalis, 568 (1.96%); Endolimax nana, 363 (1.26%); Entamoeba hartmann i, 357 (1.23%); Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, 253 (0.87%); Chilomastix mesnilii, 92 (0.32%); Enterobius vermicularis, 58 (0.20%); Iodamoeba butschlii; 40 (0.14%); Taenia sp., 35 (0.12%); Ascaris lumbricoides, 34 (0.12%); and Hymenolepis nana, 17 (0.06%) were found to be the most common parasites.

Schistosoma haematobium is one of the important causes of haematuria in some parts of the world. We present a 16-year-old Ghanaian male who applied to our hospital with haematuria. Schistosoma haematobium eggs were found in his urine sediment. The epidemiological and clinical significance of S. haematobium has been discussed in detail because S. haematobium cases are rarely seen and are generally imported in Turkey.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by the metacestode form of Echinococcus granulosus is a major public health problem especially in animal-raising regions of the world. In the present study, CE cases were determined during 2001-2005 by investigating different hospital and health directorship documents and Health Ministry documents, retrospectively. Our results show that there were 2534 (13.13%) cases in the Marmara region; 2114 (16.94%), in the Aegean region; 2578 (16.09%), Mediterranean region; 5404 (38.57%), in the Middle Anatolian region; 428 (5.70%), in the Black Sea region; 844 (6.80%), in the eastern Anatolian region; and 887 (2.75%), in the southeastern Anatolian region making a total of 14,789 CE cases. Finally, it has been determined that the patients were hospitalized for a total of 149,464 days.

Demodex sp. is an obligatory ectoparasite of pilosebaceous units in humans. This study was carried out in order to investigate the frequency of Demodex sp. among high school students. For this purpose 75 women and 96 men, making a total of 171 students, were studied. Cellophane-tape preparations taken from their face, especially at the base of the nose, underside of the jaw and the side of the forehead, were examined microscopically. Demodex sp. was found to be positive in five (2.9%) cases.

Trichomonas vaginalis is a monoxen parasite and its definitive host is human. It is known that the way of life is an important factor affecting incidence because of sexual transmission. In the present study, the incidence of T. vaginalis has been investigated with direct microscopy, Giemsa staining and culture (cysteine-peptone-liver-maltose (CPLM)). The study included 675 females with complaints of vaginal discharge who presented at different health departments or hospitals in the Malatya region during 2000-2001. T. vaginalis was seen in 55 (8.1%) patients. In addition, during period of presentation, a questionnaire was used to determine the relationship between the sociocultural status of the women and the incidence of T. vaginalis. Some of the questions in this questionnaire showed statistically significant differences in T. vaginalis infections related to the women's sociocultural status. These are as follows: type of toilet used; method and frequency of bathing; type, color, odor and frequency of vaginal discharge, level of knowledge of common sexually transmitted diseases and trichomoniasis; employment or non-employment of herself and her husband; life style in home; and educational level of husband. However, there was no statistical difference seen between other questions in the questionnaire and the existence of T. vaginalis infection.

Isospora belli infection is frequent in immunosuppressed patients and can cause wasting diarrhea. We present the first isosporiosis case in a renal transplant recipient from Turkey. The 25-year old male patient who had had a renal transplantation due to renal failure and had received immunosuppressive therapy presented at the hospital complaining of weakness, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea that had lasted for 15 days. Isospora belli oocysts were detected in stool samples by direct microscopy, modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining methods and autofluorescence technique. Oocysts in the stool samples were also sporulated in 2.5% potassium dichromate and the sporulated oocysts were seen microscopically. The patient was treated with co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim 160 mg, sulphamethoxazole 800 mg) every 12 hours for seven days, with elimination of the symptoms at this time. After this, Isospora belli oocysts were no longer seen in stool samples.

In this study, we collected stool and cellophane tape samples from residents in four villages located in the Kayseri-Karpuzsekisi basin in order to investigate the distribution of intestinal parasites. A total of 240 samples collected from Hanyeri (40), Sariküklü (20), Dokuzpinar (80) and Karpuzsekisi (120) were investigated. The parasites detected were as follows: Blastocystis hominis, 82 (34.16%); Enterobius vermicularis, 37 (15.41%); Entamoeba coli 26, (10.83%); Entamoeba hartmanni, 10 (4.16%); Giardia intestinalis, 7 (2.91%); Endolimax nana, 5 (2.08%); Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar, 4 (1.66%); and Taenia saginata, 1 (0.41%).

In this study carried out from 2000-2004, a total of 34,883 stool samples were examined using native-Lugol and flotation/sedimentation methods and 9,879 cellophane tape preparations were examined directly. Intestinal parasites were found in 9,704 (27.8%) of the specimens. The parasites that were found and their prevalence is as follows: Blastocystis hominis, 6,723 (19.3%); Entamoeba coli, 1,007 (2.9%); Giardia intestinalis, 892 (2.6%); Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar, 798 (2.3%); Endolimax nana, 486 (1.4%); Entamoeba hartmanni, 252 (0.7%); Enterobius vermicularis, 242 (0.7%); Iodamoeba bütschlii, 109 (0.3%); Taenia saginata, 92 (0.3%); Chilomastix mesnili, 67 (0.2%); Ascaris lumbricoides, 55 (0.2%); and Hymenolepis nana, 40 (0.1%).

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by the larval form of Echinococcus granulosus is a major public health problem especially in sheep-raising regions of the world. In the present study, CE cases detected during 1994-1998 by various hospitals and health directorships were investigated retrospectively. Our results show that there were a total of 699 cases of CE including 330 (47.2%) males and 369 (52.8%) females. Finally, it was found that the 699 patients had been hospitalized for a total of 9.246 days.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by a protozoon, Toxoplasma gondii. Infection acquired during pregnancy may cause intrauterine damage and sequelae in the newborn. In this study, IgG-avidity values were investigated in 695 pregnant women who were anti-T. gondii IgG antibody positive and the results obtained were evaluated. It has been found that the IgG of 492 women (70.8%) had high avidity, of 33 (4.7%), low avidity and that of 170 (24.5%) was in an equivocal range. Our results indicated that the IgG-avidity test must be carried out in pregnant women positive for anti-T. gondii IgG even if they are IgM antibody negative.