Journal of School of Public Health and

Toxoplasmosis is a common disease caused by the protozoal parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Most human cases occur by 1) eating raw or undercooked meat containing T. gondii tissue cysts. 2) ingestion of oocysts from soil and 3) vertical transmission through the placenta. Immunocompetent adults are usually asymptomatic or present with self-limited fever and lymphadenopathy. Infection acquired during pregnancy can be transmitted to the fetus and may cause mental retardation, blindness, epilepsy, and abortion. In this cross-sectional study we determined the prevalence of toxoplasma infection in residents of Meshkin-Shahr in 2001-2002. We applied a cluster sampling method to family health files in local health centers to recruit a total of 909 individuals for this study. All family members were requested to complete the study&aposs questionnaire. For each individual, two separate blood samples were collected and placed in microhematocrite tubes. Titers of anti-toxoplasma antibodies were measured by IFA with levels in excess of 1/20 taken as positive. Questionnaire information and examination results were analyzed by the SPSS software package using chi-square tests. Results of this survey show the overall prevalence of toxoplasma infection to be around 18.3%. Figures for men and women were 19.7% and 17.2%, respectively but the difference was not statistically significant. Prevalence rates show a significant association with age (greater prevalence in higher age groups) and the type of meat consumed (P<0.05). But there were no significant associations with education level, occupation-keeping cats in the house, ingestion of meat and history of previous abortions. The most frequently occurring antibody titer was 1/20 (6.9%). and frequency decreased with higher antibody titers.
This study shows that toxoplasma infection is not as common in Meshkin-Shahr as in some parts of the country, with more than 80% of individuals being seronegative. Because of the low immunity level and the risk of vertical transmission, educating the public in prevention methods could be very important.

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis of broad geographic distribution. This disease is caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The most important ways to diagnose the disease are the serological techniques such as IFA and ELISA. The aim of this consideration, was comparison between the two methods, IFA and ELISA, in order to determine the incidence of antibody against Toxoplasma in pregnant women. In this descriptive-cross sectional study, from 600 pregnant woman whom have referred to Alzzahra and Izadi maternity hospitals of Qom, during four months (from Sep.2001 to Jan.2002), the specimen of blood have been prepared. After bloodletting and parting of serum, IFA and ELISA have tested its specimens. From 600 specimens of serum, from the tested mothers by IgG-ELISA method, 257 individuals (%42.8) and by IgG-IFA method, 246 individuals (%41) had Specific IgG antibody. Also, The comparison between the two methods, IFA and ELISA, demonstrates that 246 cases (%41) were positive in both methods, and 343 cases (%57.2) were negative in both methods, and only 11 cases (%1.8) were positive in ELISA and negative in IFA technique. In this study, the effect of different factors has been studied, in which deal with the prevalence rate of Toxoplasma infection. Although, these results shows that transmission of Toxoplasma infection in this city, like other parts of world and Iran has been done, but considerable percent of pregnant women (%57.2 by ELISA method and %59 by IFA method) lacking any type of acquired immunity against of this infection. Therefore, considering secure status and accomplishing exclusive experiments before marriage and also training and informing the people of region especially pregnant women with educational programs and supervision in pregnant period is necessary. On the other hand, with regard to the rate of concordance of the two tests (%98.2), The ELISA because of its high sensitivity and specificity, easier technique and lower expense it is preferred in order to screening Toxoplasma infection.