Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in premarital daughters in Yazd, Iran

Ali Fattahi Bafghi*1, Farzaneh Mirzaei2
Page No. 6-10

Introduction: Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic infection, Pathogen agent,
Toxoplasma gondii, is a coccidian protozoa. Toxoplasmosis can cause congenital, neurologic,
ocular, and mild or asymptomatic infection. Congenital toxoplasmosis results from maternal
primary infection during pregnancy, with gestational age increase the rate of mother- fetus
transmission. This study was performed in order to Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma
gondii infection in premarital daughters in Yazd, Iran. Materials & Methods: Two hundreds before
marriage daughters (aged 14-20 y) from various parts of Yazd city were screened randomly for
Toxoplasma specific antibodies, using random number table. Based on our estimate and to obtain
25% correct estimation with 6% accuracy, 200 pregnant women were enrolled in this study. Sera
that obtained from the subjects were examined by total IFA test (IgG). Results: A total of 200 sera
samples, 114 cases (57 %) were negative and 86 cases (43%) were positive for TG antibodies (titer
≥1:20). Among positive cases 36 (18%) had titer of 1:10, 26 (13% )titer of 1:100, 18 (9%) titer of
1:200 and 6 (3%) titer of 1:400 of TG IgG antibody. Just 2.4% of positive cases suffered from acute
toxoplasmosis. Conclusion: The preventive ways against toxoplasmosis are related to
seroprevalence of infection with gestational age and health equipment. Regarding to the result,
about half of the married women in the present study were at risk of infection with T. gondii, so
preventive method should be considered.
Keywords : Toxoplasmosis, before marriage, Seroprevalence, Yazd.