Study of Anti- Toxoplasma IgG and IgM Seropositivity Among Subjects Referred to the Central Laboratory in Tabriz, Iran, 2013 - 2014

Background: Toxoplasmosis is one of the most widespread parasitic infections worldwide. The infection is mostly benign, although severe disease can be expected in immunocompromised/suppressed individuals and infants who are infected during pregnancy. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM seroprevalence in subjects who were referred to the Central Laboratory in Tabriz, Iran, for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out among 6393 individuals who were referred to the central labora- tory, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, from March 2013 to January 2014. The subjects were referred from dierent areas of East Azerbaijan province. The quantitative determination of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM was performed using an antibody capture chemiluminescence immunoassay. The other available variables, including sex and age, were also recorded and analyzed. Results: In total, 1910 (29.87%) out of 6393 subjects were found to be infected with Toxoplasma gondii. In terms of the seropositivity, 1871 (32.42%) out of 5770 and 128 (2.14%) out of 5965 subjects were anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM seropositive, respectively. In addition, 103 (1.69%) out of 5828 subjects were equivocal with regard to anti-Toxoplasma IgM, while 57 (0.97%) out of 6068 individuals were equivocal with regard to anti-Toxoplasma IgG. The mean concentration of anti-Toxoplasma IgM was observed to be higher in male subjects than in females (P = 0.016). Conclusions: Based on the findings of the present study, the frequency of Toxoplasma infection is high in the studied population, although it is fairly close to the findings of reports from the other areas of Iran.