Seroprevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in pre-pregnancy women in Yazd, Iran

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is an important zoonotic disease produced by ingesting food contaminated with oocysts and tachyzoites of this parasite and as well as congenital infection occurs unintentionally in humans by the placenta. The study of this parasite in pre-pregnancy women is of paramount importance because of abortion, hydrocephalus, microcephalus, intracranial calcifications, retinochoroiditis, strabism, blindness, epilepsy, psychomotor and mental retardation. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the seroepidemiology of T. gondii infection in pre-pregnancy women referring to private laboratories in Yazd city. In this study, blood was sampled from 185 pre-pregnancy women. Anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were determined in separated serum samples using the ELISA test. Data were entered in Excel 2016 to calculate the percentages. The results indicated that 50 (27.03%) out of 185 pregnant women were positive for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. Among these women, IgG and IgM antibodies were observed in 35 (18.91%) and 14 (7.56%) subjects, respectively. Both antibodies were found in the serum of one participant (0.5%). Since the anti-T. gondii antibody level is low in the blood serum of pregnant women in this region; pregnant women are recommended to avoid contact with cats, restrain from eating raw meat and food during pregnancy, and be tested for T. gondii at least once, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy.