seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasma gondii infection among women of reproductive age in northeast iran

Background: we aimed to investigate the seroepidemiology of toxoplasma gondii infection among women of childbearing age in gonabad city, northeastern iran, to assess the prevalence of infection and identify associated risk factors.methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted from march to april 2022 in gonabad, khorasan razavi province, northeastern iran. a total of 320 blood samples were collected from consenting pregnant women. each participant provided 5 ml of blood for serological analysis to detect anti-toxoplasma igg and igm antibodies. demographic and behavioral data were collected using a structured questionnaire.results: the mean age of participants was 29.74 ± 10.9 years. of the 320 samples, 58 (18.12%) tested positive for anti-toxoplasma igg antibodies, while 1 (0.3%) tested positive for igm antibodies. in addition, 81.9% of participants were seronegative. no significant associations were observed between anti-toxoplasma antibodies and marital status, education level, vegetable washing practices, egg cooking methods, milk consumption, or fertility status. however, significant correlations were found between seropositivity and contact with cats (p= 0.01) and meat consumption (p< 0.05).conclusion: the majority of women of childbearing age in gonabad remain susceptible to t. gondii infection, highlighting the risk of primary infection during pregnancy. to mitigate the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis, serological screening for toxoplasma infection is recommended for women of childbearing age, coupled with targeted health education on transmission routes and preventive measures.