Hadi Ghasemloo - Shahid Akbar Abadi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohsen Ghomashlooyan - Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Paramedicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
Hossein Hooshyar - Anatomical Science Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

Introduction : Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a protozoan parasitic infection distributed worldwide. Early infection by this protozoa can lead to abortion and congenital toxoplasmosis in pregnant women. This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among pregnant women referring to Shahid Akbar Abadi Hospital, Tehran, Iran during ۲۰۱۰-۲۰۱۳. Methods: This descriptive study carried-out from October ۲۰۱۰ to March ۲۰۱۳. The blood samples from ۷۸۵ pregnant women were collected and examined for specific IgG and IgM antibodies to T. gondii by ELISA method. Results: From ۷۸۵ sera samples tested ۵۴۱ (۶۸.۹%) were negative for any anti- T. gondii antibody. The women with anti- T. gondii positive and borderline IgG titers comprised ۳۱.۱% of the population study. T. gondii specific IgM was negative for all the pregnant women examined, and only for ۶ women the titer showed to be at borderline. The rate of infection increased with age, as the highest rate of seropositivity (۴۲.۲%) was observed in ۳۵-۵۰ age group. However, no significant difference in the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was observed between different age groups (P = ۰.۱۳۹). Conclusion: As a considerable number of the pregnant women were negative for T. gondii antibodies and are prone to acquisition of acute T. gondii infection over the course of pregnancy, primary prevention measures and serological monitoring of seronegative pregnant women are important for preventing congenital toxoplasmosis. J Med Microbiol Infec Dis, ۲۰۱۴, ۱ (۲): ۴ pages.

Toxoplasma gondii, Pregnant Women, Seroprevalence