Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasmosis in Pregnant Women Referred to Reference laboratory in Kermanshah, 2014-2015

Introduction:Toxoplasmosis is a common parasitic infection in most of areas in the world which is caused by protozoan parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasma gondii can be vertically transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy and may cause awid range of clinical manifistations like prenatal mortality, abortion or congenital defects. The aim of this study was to determination of seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women referred to Reference Laboratory in Kermanshah during 2014 and study of realationship between toxoplasmosis rate and risk factors like age ,contact by animals  nutriation and other factors.

Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study,Serum samples of 386 pregnant women were investigated for existence of IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. A questionnaire about demographic characteristic and risk factors of cases was filled in. The data analyzed using SPSS software version 16.

Results: In this study, in 386 pregnant women, 133 cases (34.5%) had positive serology tests. The mean age cases, was 29 years old There are significant realationship between infection rate and domestic animal contact (p<0.001) and significant realationship between infection rate and age was seen too (p-value=0.001). 

Conclusion::Results of this study showed, the seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Kermanshah is 34.5%. ,it is essential to do Serological screening tests in first trimester of pregnancy and it is possible to prevent of congenital Toxoplasmosis whit health educational programs.