title: Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Hebron district, Palestine.
abstract: To measure the prevalence of toxoplasmosis, we tested 204 pregnant women for IgG and IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii using an enzyme-linked immunoassay. The study was conducted in Hebron district during the year 2005. The seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to T. gondii was 27.9% from rural areas (36.8%) had IgG antibodies to T. gondii than urban women (21.4%). Possible routes of infection were contaminated soil, drinking rainwater and eating raw vegetables rather than eating uncooked meat or contact with cats. The prevalence of previous abortion was 37.3%, with a slight (but not statistically significant) association with toxoplasmosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Hebron University, Hebron, West Bank, Palestine. knijem@hotmail.com
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Nijem
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Amleh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M