Author/Authors :
Eshratkhah Mohammadnejad, A Department of Parasitology and Mycology - School of Medicine - Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran , Eslami, G Research Center for Food Hygiene and Safety - Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran , Shamsi, F Department of Biostatistics - School of Health - Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran , Pirnejad, A Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - Urmia University, Urmia, Iran , Samie, A Department of Pathobiology - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - Urmia University, Urmia, Iran , Safabakhsh, J Molecular Diagnostics Laboratories - Urmia healthcare centers, Urmia, Iran , Sakhavand, A Molecular Diagnostics Laboratories - Urmia healthcare centers, Urmia, Iran , Elloumi, M Laboratory of Technologies of Information and Communication and Electrical Engineering - University of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
Abstract :
Background: Toxoplasmosis is one of the most prevalent parasitic infections among
humans and animals which caused by Toxoplasma gondii. This study was carried out to
detection and identification of T. gondii in pregnant women population of Urmia, Iran.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was done from August 2015 to March 2016. Totally,
620 pregnant women referred to the urban and rural healthcare centers of Urmia
were studied. IgG and IgM specific for T. gondii were assessed by enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay. The demographic and risk factors data were collected by
questionnaires. All included women completed the consent letter of agreement. The
identification of T. gondii was performed using nested Polymerase Chain Reaction. The
statistical analysis was done using SPSS 16.0.
Results: Out of 620 pregnant women, 114 (18.4%) had specific IgG and three (0.5%) had
specific IgM for T. gondii. Statistical analysis showed significant relation between the
IgG level and age (p<0.05). We did not find any significant relation (p>0.05) between the
level of T. gondii specific antibodies with career, education, and vegetable and meat
consumption habits. Molecular identification of T. gondii showed type I in isolates
obtained from three newborns of IgM-positive mothers.
Conclusion: In order to prevent of the disease in newborns, screening of pregnant women
and healthcare education are suggested.
Keywords :
Toxoplasma , Iran , Pregnant Women , Risk Factors
