SEROEPIDEMIOLOGY AND RISK FACTORS OF TOXOPLASMOSIS IN PREGNANT WOMEN IN URMIA CITY

Toxoplasma gondii is an important zoonotic disease. Infection with toxoplasma especially asymptomatic infection in pregnant women leads to congenital toxoplasmosis, making abortion, congenital abnormalities in the fetus, and severe damages in individuals with immunodeficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate seroepidemiology and the risk factors of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Urmia city.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 346 pregnant women that referred to four health centers in Urmia. The serums of patients were examined for IgG and IgM antibodies against toxoplasma gondii by ELISA technique. Then personal and toxoplasma infection risk related data were obtained by questionnaire interviews and then the data were analyzed with SPSS20.

The seroprevalence of anti toxoplasma antibody IgG was 28.32% and IgM was 1.44%. There was a significant correlation between residence (p<0.001), wearing gloves when carrying waste bags, and chopping meat (p<0.001). No significant relations were observed between educational level, consumption of meat, vegetable, unhealthy water, occupation and consumption of raw eggs.

This study showed that 248 (71.68%) pregnant women did not have history of infection with toxoplasma and were susceptible to be at high risk for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. Based on the results obtained, it is critical to establish a program of health surveillance for toxoplasmosis in order to contribute in diagnosis and early treatment during the prenatal period.