Author/Authors :
Heshmat Ramin نويسنده , Kelishadi Roya نويسنده , Qorbani Mostafa نويسنده Department of Endocrinology, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, , Gharavi Mohammad Javad نويسنده Department of Parasitology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran , MIAHIPOUR Abolfazl نويسنده Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran MIAHIPOUR Abolfazl , Mostafavi Nasser نويسنده Pediatrics Department, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran , Ghaffari Hoseini Shervin نويسنده Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran , Roozbehani Mona نويسنده Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Iran university of medical sciences,Tehran, IR Iran , Oshaghi Mojgan نويسنده Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran , Gharegozlou Behnaz نويسنده Department of Immunology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran , Kalantar Enayatollh نويسنده Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, IR Iran , Naseri Abdolhossien نويسنده Department of Immunology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran
Abstract :
[Background]Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide neglected tropical and sub-tropical infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). Most of the previous studies on the seroprevalence of T. gondii in Iran have been done at provincial level and on specific populations, including pregnant females. Socioeconomic parameters are associated with the prevalence of this disease. In this study, the authors evaluated the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies and the related risk factors in Iranian adolescents.[Methods]This was a cross-sectional study on serum samples from the third Iranian national school-based survey (the CASPIAN III study), which included 10- to 18-year-old students. Participants were selected by multistage sampling from 27 Iranian provinces.In this study, serum samples of 882 adolescents from 16 provinces were randomly selected and examined for IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii by the Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA). Demographic and socioeconomic factors related to T. gondii infection were gathered using the global school-based health survey (GSHS) questionnaire.[Results]The overall T. gondii IgG and IgM seropositivity was 56.3% (95% CI: 53.4 to 59.2) and 3.7% (95%CI: 2.7 to 4.9), respectively. In multivariate logistic regression model, family size was statistically associated with seroprevalence of anti T. gondii IgG. Living in crowded households (households with more than 4 people vs. households with less than 4 people) increased the risk of seropositivity of T. gondii (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.99).[Conclusions]The results of this study indicate that about 40% of Iranian adolescents have not had contact with the T. gondii, thus the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis might be high in young females. Also, household size was the main factor associated with T. gondii infection. Preventive strategies and health education in Iranian adolescents are recommended.
