Toxoplasmosis is a frequent infection among the human population. The infection can cause devastating complications for the fetus during pregnancy. The present study aimed to determine the serological and molecular prevalence of the infection and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii isolates among pregnant women referred to Kowsar Hospital, Urmia, Iran. In a cross-sectional study, 340 blood samples were collected from pregnant women referred to Kowsar Hospital, Urmia, Iran from May to July 2022. Anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM seropositivity were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. PCR was carried out by targeting the GRA6 gene of the parasite on all patients’ buffy coats. Anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were positive in two (0.6%) women, and 101 (29.7%) women had anti-T. gondii IgG and 70.3% were seronegative. PCR was positive in two IgM-positive women, and both isolates belonged to T. gondii carrying the GRA6 allele of lineage I. The risk of infection was significantly higher in women who had constant contact with cats and soil, and who were residents of rural areas. The two IgM-positive women were asymptomatic regarding acute toxoplasmosis. According to the results of the present study, the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Urmia is similar to its prevalence in other areas in northwestern Iran, and despite the low prevalence of acute infection, it should not be ignored.

中文翻译：

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2022年伊朗西北部乌尔米亚某妇科医院转诊孕妇弓形虫感染流行情况及危险因素的血清分子研究

弓形体病是人群中常见的感染。这种感染可能会给怀孕期间的胎儿带来毁灭性的并发症。本研究旨在确定伊朗乌尔米亚 Kowsar 医院孕妇中弓形虫分离株感染的血清学和分子流行率以及分子特征。在一项横断面研究中，从 2022 年 5 月至 7 月转诊至伊朗乌尔米亚 Kowsar 医院的孕妇采集了 340 份血液样本。通过酶联免疫吸附测定测定弓形虫 IgG 和 IgM 血清阳性。通过针对所有患者血沉棕黄层上寄生虫的 GRA6 基因进行 PCR。抗T。两名 (0.6%) 女性的弓形虫 IgG 和 IgM 抗体呈阳性，101 名 (29.7%) 女性的抗弓形虫抗体呈阳性。弓形虫 IgG 和 70.3% 血清阴性。两名 IgM 阳性女性的 PCR 呈阳性，这两种分离株均属于携带 I 系 GRA6 等位基因的弓形虫。经常接触猫和土壤的女性以及农村居民的感染风险明显更高地区。这两名 IgM 阳性女性没有急性弓形虫病症状。根据本研究结果，乌尔米亚孕妇弓形体病的患病率与伊朗西北部其他地区的患病率相似，尽管急性感染患病率较低，但仍不容忽视。