"Toxoplasmosis has world wide distribution and in Iran its prevalence is high. Pregnant women
infected with Toxoplasma gondii may be prone to abortion, fetal death, still birth or congenital toxoplasmosis.
If we know the percentage of immune women, who are going to get married, we can determine the occurrence
of abortion, still birth and fetal death due to toxoplasmosis and congenital toxoplasmosis. Women who are
going to married and referred to the health center laboratory of different cities of Mazandaran state were
studied. The samples comprised of 980 women from Sari, Ghaemshahr, Babol, Nowshahr, Noor and Behshar.
Five mL blood was drawn; serum was separated and examined for antibody against toxoplasmosis by indirect
immunofluorescence. First of all, 1/50 titer dilution was tested in the cases of positive result, further dilution was
prepared and the last dilution was recorded. Serum of 731 samples (74.6%) were positive for toxoplasma
antibody. Most of the samples (24 and 37%) were positive in 1:100 and 1:200 dilutions. With increase in the age
of women, percentage of positive cases increased (87.9% of the women with age of 30-34 years were positive
for toxoplasma antibody). 96.3% of uneducated women were positive for toxoplasma antibody. No difference
between women in urban and rural areas, also between employed and housewife women were found.
Toxoplasma infection is more prevalent in Mazandaran state than the other states of country. Since the
prevalence rate of toxoplasmosis is high in women before marriage, we can conclude that the risk of abortion,
still birth and fetal death due to toxoplasmosis and also congenital toxoplasmosis in this state is low. Therefore
a health recommendation will prevent the risk of toxoplasmosis in women who are going to marry."