HEMATOLOGICAL PROFILE AND PLATELET INDICES AS INFLAMMATORY BIOMARKERS IN PREGNANT WOMEN WITH TOXOPLASMA GONDII INFECTION: A CONTROLLED CLINICAL STUDY AT AL-ZAHRAA TEACHING HOSPITAL

Marwa Ahmed Meri*, Ansaf Saleh Abar, Rafal Haider AL-Ebrahemi

Background and Objective: Toxoplasma gondii still poses a serious parasitic risk during pregnancy due to its ability to disturb maternal physiological balance and alter fetal development. This clinical study focused on determining the hematological changes associated with T with high precision. The study investigates Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women attending Al-Zahraa Teaching Hospital – Iraq. Women with chronic comorbid conditions were excluded to determine the specific effect of the parasite. Thus, 60 married females between 18 years to 40 years of age were taken for the study which comprised 30 infected women and 30 healthy controls. Materials and Methods: This study was done using an observational case-control design during March- September 2025. T. The presence of IgG and IgM antibodies confirmed the existence of gondii through ELISA. The measurement of complete blood count parameters and platelet indices was done using an automatic Hematology Analyzer. SPSS version 26.0 was used for statistical analysis. To compare the groups independent ttest was used and a statistical measurement of p value lower than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Evidence of a systemic inflammatory response was shown by the infected group. The average white blood cell count was significantly higher among the infected women as compared to their healthy counterparts, i.e. 11.4 ± 2.1 and 8.2 ± 1.4 ×10³/μL (p < 0.05). This growth was largely due to significant increase of lymphocytes. Conversely, the infected group exhibited significant reductions in erythroid parameters. The average hemoglobin level of infected women (10.1 ± 1.2 g/dL) was significantly lower than that of the control women (12.4 ± 0.9 g/dL) (p < 0.0001). There was a major drop in packed cell volume. While total platelet count was not significantly different between the two groups, the average platelet volume and platelet distribution width significantly increased among infected women (p< 0.05) There are chances of thrombo-inflammatory activity and raise in platelet turnover. Conclusions: These results reveal that T. gondii can significantly disrupt hemato-logical stability during pregnancy. The infection seems to induce a functional type of anemia and fosters a unique pattern of white blood cell mobilization. Narrowing of platelet distribution width as well as rise in platelet volume suggests that the platelet indices may serve as new and affordable biomarkers of systemic inflammation in gestational toxoplasmosis. To support heightened awareness of complications related to infection, detailed hematological profiling should be included in routine prenatal care in the Iraqi clinical setting.