Serological Survey of Toxoplasmosis in Women Referred to Medical Health Laboratory Before Marriage, Northern Iran, 2003-2004

摘要

Toxoplasmosis has world wide distribution and in Iran its prevalence is high. Pregnant womeninfected with Toxoplasma gondii may be prone to abortion, fetal death, still birth or congenital toxoplasmosis.If we know the percentage of immune women, who are going to get married, we can determine the occurrenceof abortion, still birth and fetal death due to toxoplasmosis and congenital toxoplasmosis. Women who aregoing to married and referred to the health center laboratory of different cities of Mazandaran state werestudied. The samples comprised of 980 women from Sari, Ghaemshahr, Babol, Nowshahr, Noor and Behshar.Five mL blood was drawn; serum was separated and examined for antibody against toxoplasmosis by indirectimmunofluorescence. First of all, 1/50 titer dilution was tested in the cases of positive result, further dilution wasprepared and the last dilution was recorded. Serum of 731 samples (74.6%) were positive for toxoplasmaantibody. Most of the samples (24 and 37%) were positive in 1:100 and 1:200 dilutions. With increase in the ageof women, percentage of positive cases increased (87.9% of the women with age of 30-34 years were positivefor toxoplasma antibody). 96.3% of uneducated women were positive for toxoplasma antibody. No differencebetween women in urban and rural areas, also between employed and housewife women were found.Toxoplasma infection is more prevalent in Mazandaran state than the other states of country. Since theprevalence rate of toxoplasmosis is high in women before marriage, we can conclude that the risk of abortion,still birth and fetal death due to toxoplasmosis and also congenital toxoplasmosis in this state is low. Thereforea health recommendation will prevent the risk of toxoplasmosis in women who are going to marry.