title: Seroprevalence ofToxoplasma gondiiinfection among childbearing age women in Kerman city, southeastern Iran.
abstract: This cross-sectional study aims to determine the prevalence of IgM and IgG anti-T.gondiiantibodies and the associated risk factors among childbearing age women referring to counseling centers before marriage in Kerman city, southeast of Iran. Totally, 300 serum samples were collected from women referred to Central Laboratory for Marriage Consultation in Kerman city were screened for IgG and IgM anti-T. gondiiantibodies by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Out of the 300 serum samples, 38 (12.6 %) tested seropositive for anti-T. gondiiantibodies; 31 (10.3 %) samples tested seropositive for only IgG antibody, 1 (0.33 %) tested seropositive for both IgM and IgG and 6 (2.0 %) were positive for IgM antibody alone. Statistical analyses also indicated that seroprevalence of anti-T. gondiiantibodies increased with age (p< 0.05). Moreover, some risk factors such as, living in rural regions, contact with cats, raw/half-cooked meat consumption, and agricultural activities were significantly (p< 0.05) related toT. gondiiseropositivity. The findings revealed that more than three-quarters of the childbearing age women studied in the present investigation are susceptible to infection during pregnancy. Thus, by adopting correct and improved practices we can improve their living conditions, and prevent infection and awareness and control of pathogens associated with disease is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavakoli Kareshk
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keyhani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zia-Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mahmoudvand
authors.affiliation: Health and Treatment Center of Komijan, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
keywords: ELISA; IgG antibody; IgM antibody; Toxoplasmosis