title: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infections in Pregnant Women in Gorgan City, Golestan Province, Northern Iran-2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most prevalent parasites of human and warm- blooded animals. Toxoplasmosis is important especially in two groups: pregnant women and immunocompromised patients. If women acquire the primary infection during the pregnancy, it would be life threatening or remains severe disorders for the fetus. This study was performed to evaluate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in pregnant women referred to Health Center in Gorgan City, Golestan Province, northern Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples were collected from pregnant women referred to Health Center in Gorgan City, south eastern Caspian Sea. Anti- Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies were determined by commercially ELISA kits and the relation of infection with socio-demographic and risk factors such as age, education, occupation, cat ownership, soil contact and some other factors was studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 555 tested sera of pregnant women referred to Health Center in Gorgan, 39.8% had IgG antibodies against T. gondii and 3.4% were positive for IgM antibodies. A significant correlation was seen between T. gondii infection with age and soil contact.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  About 60% of pregnant women in Gorgan City are seronegative against T. gondii, so they should considered as at risk persons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology & Mycology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran ; Infectious Diseases Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharbatkhori
authors.affiliation: Social Security Organization, Gonbad, Iran.
authors.forename: Yusef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dadi Moghaddam
authors.affiliation: Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdol Sattar
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Pagheh
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Rasool
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors.forename: Haleh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hedayat Mofidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology & Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeedeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shojaee
keywords: ELISA; Iran; Pregnant women; Prevalence; Toxoplasma gondii
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