title: Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Isfahan province, central Iran: A population based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide infection. Most studies on toxoplasmosis are in women in child bearing ages. We conducted an epidemiological survey on the population of the Isfahan Province to identify characteristics of the individuals associated with seropositivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross sectional study, 599 serum samples were randomly collected for seroepidemiology of Hepatitis A and E, and were also used for titration of IgG anti-toxoplasma gondii antibody by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Data were analyzed using SPSS software(15). Chi square and Fisher exact tests were employed to examine antibody status in different age, gender, education and residency groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence was 41.4% (248/599). There was a statistical significant association between seroprevalence with age, education, and gender (p < 0.05) but not with residency state. The peak age for acquisition of the infection in females was 20-29 and in males 20-39 years old.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of current study showed a moderate prevalence of toxoplasma gondii infection. However higher seroconversion rate in active social and reproductive ages, females and low educated individuals necessitate active preventive programs in these high risk groups.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Sayed Nasser
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Mostafavi
authors.forename: Behrooz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ataei
authors.forename: Zari
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nokhodian
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yaran
authors.forename: Anahita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Babak
references.citation: Bull Soc Pathol Exot. 1997;90(1):19-21
references.pmid: 9264742
references.citation: Pak J Biol Sci. 2007 May 1;10(9):1550-2
references.pmid: 19069975
references.citation: Int J Epidemiol. 1988 Sep;17(3):595-602
references.pmid: 3264821
references.citation: Emerg Infect Dis. 2006 Apr;12(4):582-7
references.pmid: 16704805
references.citation: Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2009 Jan-Feb;51(1):13-7
references.pmid: 19229385
references.citation: Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2003;11(3):139-45
references.pmid: 15022874
references.citation: Eur J Epidemiol. 1995 Apr;11(2):149-56
references.pmid: 7672068
references.citation: Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 1994 Sep-Oct;36(5):445-50
references.pmid: 7569612
references.citation: Eur J Epidemiol. 1998 Sep;14(6):605-10
references.pmid: 9794128
references.citation: Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2005 Mar-Apr;38(2):173-7
references.pmid: 15821794
references.citation: Pak J Biol Sci. 2007 Jul 15;10(14):2359-62
references.pmid: 19070157
references.citation: Clin Infect Dis. 2009 Sep 15;49(6):878-84
references.pmid: 19663709
references.citation: Arch Dis Child. 1997 Nov;77(5):406-9
references.pmid: 9487962
references.citation: Ugeskr Laeger. 1995 Sep 18;157(38):5242-5
references.pmid: 7483039
references.citation: Trop Gastroenterol. 2008 Jul-Sep;29(3):160-2
references.pmid: 19115608
references.citation: Eur J Epidemiol. 2000;16(9):875-7
references.pmid: 11297231
references.citation: Int J Infect Dis. 2009 Jan;13(1):67-71
references.pmid: 18599335
references.citation: Folia Parasitol (Praha). 2010 Jun;57(2):105-13
references.pmid: 20608472
references.citation: Korean J Parasitol. 2005 Jun;43(2):69-71
references.pmid: 15951643
references.citation: Theriogenology. 2006 Mar 1;65(4):731-43
references.pmid: 16076482
references.citation: East Mediterr Health J. 2010 Jan;16(1):24-8
references.pmid: 20214153
references.citation: East Mediterr Health J. 2008 Jan-Feb;14(1):163-71
references.pmid: 18557464