Serological Evaluation and Molecular Genotyping of in Pregnant Women in Meshkin-Shahr District, Northwestern Iran.

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the serological and molecular characteristics of infection among pregnant women and their aborted placentas in Meshkin-Shahr City during 2019-2020.

METHODS

Blood samples of 210 pregnant women were evaluated for anti- antibodies and related risk factors were determined. Also, the sera of aborted women and their buffy coats and aborted placenta tissues were used to detect anti- antibodies and the parasite's DNA, respectively. The parasite genotypes were determined by the PCR-RFLP using the gene.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of anti- IgG was 24.3% and only 1% of participants were seropositive for the IgM antibody. There was a significant relationship between raw or unwashed vegetable consumption, contact with soil, vegetable/fruit washing type, and seropositivity (<0.05). During pregnancy, 4.7% of women encountered an abortion and 30% and 50% of cases were positive for IgG antibodies before and after abortion, respectively. Only two cases were IgM seropositive after abortion. In the avidity IgG test, 20% of cases showed low avidity. BLAST and phylogenetic analysis exhibited that all isolates belonged to the type III genotype. Although two women with spontaneous abortions showed seropositivity for IgM antibody, parasite DNA was detected in three cases.

CONCLUSION

The seroprevalence of infection is not high in pregnant women. Seropositive women are not safe from congenital transmission. type III is the etiology of fetus infection in mothers with spontaneous abortion. It seems that screening and essential care are still necessary during pregnancy.