Seroep
Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma Infection
in Pregnant Women in Qom Province, Iran (2010)
Lame Akhlaghi 1,Shahnaz
Shirbazou2, Fatemeh Maleki3, Alireza Keyghobadi 4 ,Yaser
Tabaraei 5,Fatemeh Tabatabaie1*
1Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2Health research center,Baqiyatallah university of medical
sciences, Tehran, Iran
3Faculty of Para Medical Sciences, Iran University of
Medical Sciences, Hemmat Express Way, Tehran, Iran
4Intern, Medical Student, School of
Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
5MS in Biostatistics, Public health
School-Health School-Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences (SUMS), Sabzevar,
Iran
Abstract: Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that can
infect a wide range of hosts, including humans. Infection with T.
gondii is potentially life threatening in immunocompromised
individuals. Moreover, the infection can be detrimental during pregnancy, often
leading to abortion of the fetus. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the
seroepidemiology of T. gondii infection among Qom's pregnant
women in 20l0. Materials and methods: In this descriptive,
cross-sectional study, 200 serum
samples were selected randomly and examined for toxoplasmosis by ELISA and IFA
methods.The relationship between seropositivity for toxoplasmosis on the one
hand, and some important factors on the other hand, were evaluated. Results:
Total prevalence of Anti-Toxoplasma was 45.3%. According to the
data reported by patients, toxoplasmosis had direct relationship with
residential areas, consumption of semi-cooked meat, consumption of unwashed raw
vegetables, and being in contact with cats. There is a statistically
significant relationship between age and occurrence of the infection with
regard to IgG seropositivity. However, such relationship could not be found for
IgM. The highest infection rate was observed in the age range of 2l to
25. Discussion: Education about the routes of the disease
transmission and performing toxoplasma test before pregnancy
can be effective reducing the prevalence rate. [Lame
Akhlaghi, Shahnaz shirbazou, Fatemeh Maleki, Alireza Keyghobadi, Yaser tabaraei, Fatemeh Tabatabaie, Seroepidemiology of ToxoplasmaInfection
in Pregnant Women in Qom Province, Iran (2010), Life Sci J 2013;10(7s):
322-325] (ISSN:1097-8135).http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 50
Keywords: Toxoplasma; Antibody; Pregnancy; IgM;
IgG.
