Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
BMC Res Notes. 2021 Apr 30;14(1):163. doi: 10.1186/s13104-021-05581-0.
The aim of the current study was to assess prevalence of Toxoplasma infection and its associated risk factors in women of childbearing-age in central Iran.
Of 400 serum samples assessed for anti-T. gondii antibodies, 81 (20.25%) samples were positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies, including 74 positive samples (91.3%) for anti-T. gondii IgG and seven positive samples (8.7%) for IgG and IgM. Of seven IgG and IgM positive samples, five and two samples were high and low in IgG avidity, respectively. Based on PCR analysis, Toxoplasma infection was detected in one sample with anti-T. gondii IgM and low IgG avidity. The Chi-square test showed significant correlations of T. gondii seropositivity with history of undercooked meat consumption and contacts with cats (p < 0.05). In the present study, 79.75% of the participants were negative for IgG against T. gondii infection. Furthermore, recently acquired Toxoplasma infection was found using IgG avidity and PCR assays among women of childbearing-age in the study area, which would increase the risk of their fetus becoming infected. Educational program and antenatal screening of childbearing-age women for T. gondii infection may be important primary prevention strategies and help reduce the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis in this population.
本研究旨在评估伊朗中部育龄妇女弓形虫感染的流行情况及其相关危险因素。
在评估的 400 份血清样本中，有 81 份（20.25%）样本抗弓形虫抗体阳性，其中 74 份（91.3%）为抗弓形虫 IgG 阳性，7 份（8.7%）为 IgG 和 IgM 阳性。在 7 份 IgG 和 IgM 阳性样本中，有 5 份和 2 份样本 IgG 亲和力分别较高和较低。基于 PCR 分析，在 1 份抗弓形虫 IgM 和 IgG 亲和力较低的样本中检测到弓形虫感染。卡方检验显示，弓形虫血清阳性与食用未煮熟的肉类和接触猫有显著相关性（p<0.05）。在本研究中，79.75%的参与者 IgG 对弓形虫感染呈阴性。此外，在研究地区的育龄妇女中，使用 IgG 亲和力和 PCR 检测发现了近期获得的弓形虫感染，这将增加其胎儿感染的风险。针对育龄妇女的教育计划和产前筛查对于弓形虫感染可能是重要的初级预防策略，可以帮助降低该人群先天性弓形虫病的风险。
