Seroepidemiological Study of Toxoplasmosis in Women Referred to Arak Marriage Consulting Center during 2012-2013.
BACKGROUND
Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic and usually asymptomatic infection. This study was carried out to investigate the seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma infection in women referred to Arak Marriage Consulting Center during 2012-2013.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, serum samples were collected from 400 women referred to Marriage Consulting Center in Arak City, Markazi Province, central Iran during 2012-2013. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies were measured by ELISA using homemade antigen. Results were analyzed by SPSS 18 and the correlation between toxoplasmosis and some affecting factors were estimated.


RESULTS
Overall, 97 cases (24.3%) had IgG antibodies against T. gondii and 19 cases (4.8%) were positive for IgM antibodies. A significant correlation was seen between T. gondii infection with clinical symptoms, keeping cat as pet animal, education and handling or eating raw or undercooked meat (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of (24.3%) for Toxoplasma infection was seen in Arak City. It seems that keeping cat as pet and consumption of undercooked liver and uncooked hamburger are the most important transmission routes for the infection in this city. Since the majority of women are Toxoplasma sero-negative (75.7%) in Arak City, using serological tests and health education prior to marriage or during pregnancy is recommended.
Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Heath, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
Alireza
A
Mohammadi
Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Heath, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
Saeedeh
S
Shojaee
Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Heath, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
Mahboobeh
M
Salimi
Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Heath, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
Mehdi
M
Zareei
Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Heath, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran ; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mehdi
M
Mohebali
Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Heath, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
Hossein
H
Keshavarz
Antibody; ELISA; Iran; Marriage; Toxoplasma infection