Vahid Raissi1, Ali Taghipour2, Zahra Navi1, Soudabeh Etemadi3, Zahra Sohrabi4, Nasrin Sohrabi5, Muhammad Getso1,6, Sina Shamsaei7, Maryam Fasihi Karami8, Omid Raiesi1,9. 1. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. 3. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran. 4. Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 5. Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 6. Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. 7. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 8. Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Jondi Shapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. 9. Department of Parasitology, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
Abstract
AIM: In spite of the importance of toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis among the high-risk groups, such as pregnant women, the infections are categorized as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. infections can cause systemic and ocular diseases in infants during pregnancy. In this study, we investigated seroprevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis and their co-infection in pregnant women and non-pregnant women referred to the healthcare facilities of Ilam province, west of Iran. METHODS: A total of 378 sera samples (189 pregnant women and 189 non-pregnant women) was investigated for the presence of IgG antibodies against T. gondii and Toxocara spp. by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The samples of all pregnant women with abortion (56 cases) were also evaluated for IgM anti-toxoplasmosis antibody by ELISA method. Moreover, associated factors were obtained from the participant's questionnaires. Data analysis for this study was performed using the spss software version 20. RESULTS: Seroprevalence of T. gondii, Toxocara spp., and their co-infection in pregnant women was 39.7%, 21.2% and 9.5%, respectively. Regarding the risk factors, the contact with a cat (P = 0.04) and dog (P = 0.00) were significantly associated with T. gondii and Toxocara spp., respectively. CONCLUSION: This study highlighted the importance of serological diagnosis before pregnancy. Moreover, we believe that more epidemiological studies are needed for a better understanding of overlaps between T. gondii and Toxocara spp. in pregnant women.
AIM: In spite of the importance of toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis among the high-risk groups, such as pregnant women, the infections are categorized as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. infections can cause systemic and ocular diseases in infants during pregnancy. In this study, we investigated seroprevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis and their co-infection in pregnant women and non-pregnant women referred to the healthcare facilities of Ilam province, west of Iran. METHODS: A total of 378 sera samples (189 pregnant women and 189 non-pregnant women) was investigated for the presence of IgG antibodies against T. gondii and Toxocara spp. by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The samples of all pregnant women with abortion (56 cases) were also evaluated for IgM anti-toxoplasmosis antibody by ELISA method. Moreover, associated factors were obtained from the participant's questionnaires. Data analysis for this study was performed using the spss software version 20. RESULTS: Seroprevalence of T. gondii, Toxocara spp., and their co-infection in pregnant women was 39.7%, 21.2% and 9.5%, respectively. Regarding the risk factors, the contact with a cat (P = 0.04) and dog (P = 0.00) were significantly associated with T. gondii and Toxocara spp., respectively. CONCLUSION: This study highlighted the importance of serological diagnosis before pregnancy. Moreover, we believe that more epidemiological studies are needed for a better understanding of overlaps between T. gondii and Toxocara spp. in pregnant women.
Authors: Yslla Fernanda Fitz Balo Merigueti; Rogerio Giuffrida; Rodrigo Costa da Silva; Louise Bach Kmetiuk; Andrea Pires Dos Santos; Alexander Welker Biondo; Vamilton Alvares Santarém Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2022-06-28