Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma Infection in the Pregnant Women in Zahedan, Southeast of Iran

Congenital transmission, prenatal mortality and abortion, are major problems in most coun-tries with high prevalence of Toxoplasma gondi infection and study of seroepidemiology of this infection among the pregnant women, could provide applicable approaches to preventive measures. In order to deter-mine the seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma infection in the pregnant women, this study was carried out. In this cross-sectional and descriptive study, a total of 200 cases were selected randomly from pregnant women who, were referred to health center clinics in Zahedan province (Southeast of Iran). Ob-tained sera were examined for Toxoplasma antibodies by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). A titer of 1:20 was considered as positive for Toxoplasma infection. The studies showed that, a total of 54 samples (27%) were positive at titers 1:20 or more. Frequen-cies of different titers in positive subjects were as follows: 1:20, 20%; 1:100, 32.2%; 1:200, 40%; and 1:400 or more, 7.8%. The highest rate of infection was observed in the uneducated mothers (44.4%). Seropositivity was higher in pregnant women, who aged 15 to 30 (78.5%). We found a significant correlation between edu-catin status, unwashed/unpeeled vegetables and seropositivity (P <0.05). Regarding to this study and other studies in North of Iran (western and eastern parts of Caspian Sea), this area has a relatively lower seropositivity in this group. However, there is a need for further in-depth studies to understand the significance of infection in women with history of repeated foetal wastage, congenital malformation in her infant, especially in the women of uneducated group.