title: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in unmarried women in Qazvin, Islamic Republic of Iran.
abstract: In a cross-sectional study, we evaluated the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among 400 women referred to Qazvin community health centre laboratory for pre-marriage examinations. Indirect immunofluorescent antibody test was used to detect IgG anti-toxoplasma. Titres > or = 1: 20 were considered positive. The overall seropositivity was 34%. Mean age was significantly higher in seropositive women (P < 0.05). Seropositivity was highest among unemployed women (38.3%) and lowest among students (22.6%), and was significantly higher in women with less than high-school education (P < 0.05). With two-thirds of these unmarried women seronegative, they represent a high-risk group in pregnancy. Such women need to be educated to prevent congenital toxoplasmosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Islamic Republic of Iran. jahanihashemi@qums.ac.ir
authors.forename: H Jahani
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hashemi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saraei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011291:Premarital Examinations; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012847:Single Person / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014930:Women / Q000193:education
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G