Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay-based detection and prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in childbearing women (Iran)

Toxoplasmosis is a common zoonotic disease, which is of particular importance in women before and during pregnancy. In this study, the chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay was used to detect Toxoplasma gondii and the seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii was investigated among childbearing women in Qom, Iran. In this study, 202 blood samples were collected from childbearing women for evaluation of toxoplasmosis. Serum samples were isolated to determine anti- Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies. Based on findings, the total prevalence of anti- Toxoplasma antibodies was 134 (66.3%) [95% CI 59.6–72.5]. In addition, 133 (65.8%) [95% CI 59.1–72.1], 19 (9.4%) [95% CI 6.1–14.2] and 18 (8.9%) [95% CI 5.7–13.6] samples were IgG-positive, IgM-positive and positive for both antibodies, respectively. The highest infection rate was reported over the age of 35 years, and positive lgM antibodies were detected in women below 29 years. T. gondii infection showed a significant correlation with age, pregnancy, contact with cats, exposure to soil, and consumption of raw food ( P < 0.05). The serological tests revealed that nearly 33.7% [95% CI 27.5–40.4] of women at childbearing age (49.1% [95% CI 36.4–61.9] of pregnant women versus 27.9% [95% CI 21.3–35.6] of non-pregnant women) had no anti- Toxoplasma antibodies. Therefore, this population is more prone to acute infections with Toxoplasma .