Mohammad-Shafi Mojadadi; Najmeh Mahmoodabadi; Melika Lal-Kargar; Hossein Elyasi
Abstract
Objectives Despite vaccination, rubella is still considered as a major disease and a threat to global health. According to evidence, approximately 100 000 cases of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) occur annually in the world. The current study aimed at determining the immune status of rubella among ...
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Objectives Despite vaccination, rubella is still considered as a major disease and a threat to global health. According to evidence, approximately 100 000 cases of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) occur annually in the world. The current study aimed at determining the immune status of rubella among female students of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzever, Iran.Methods In the current cross sectional study, 143 female students filled out the questionnaires focusing demographic and epidemiological properties (residency, history of rubella vaccine, history of rubella infection among him/herself and the family members). Then, after obtaining the informed consent, blood samples were obtained from the students, and anti-rubella IgM and IgG were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16, using descriptive statistical methods and Chi-square test.Results According to the results of the current study, 45.8% of the participants were from Sabzevar and the rest were from other cities of Iran; 3% of the students had not received rubella vaccine. Results obtained from ELISA test showed that all serum samples were negative for rubella-specific IgM. Also, 99.3% of the students had acceptable titers (>10 IU/mL) for the rubella-specific IgG.Conclusion The current study showed that the rubella immune status was quite satisfactory among the female students of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences.
Mohammad-Shafi Mojadadi; Najmeh Mahmoodabadi; Zohreh Sajadiniya; Rahim Golmohamadi; Hossein Elyasi
Volume 23, Issue 3 , July and August 2016, , Pages 490-495
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that infects all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Acute infection with Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women frequently leads to congenital toxoplasmosis which may cause abortion or severe diseases such as premature birth, ...
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Background Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that infects all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Acute infection with Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women frequently leads to congenital toxoplasmosis which may cause abortion or severe diseases such as premature birth, permanent neurological damage, and visual impairment in the baby. Serological survey in females before marriage can reveal immune status of them against toxoplasmosis. This research aimed to determine the anti-toxoplasma antibodies in female students of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.Materials & Methods In this cross-sectional study, 137 blood samples were taken from female students that were randomly selected and used for the measurement of anti-toxoplasma antibodies by ELISA method. Using a researcher-designed questionnaire, information such as consuming grilled and undercooked meat, exposure to cats and residency status was collected. The data analysis was performed by Chi-square test using SPSS.Results The detected IgG antibodies in 18(13.1%) samples were significant, and no IgM antibody was found in the studied samples. There were no significant differences between infection and factors such as residency status (urban/rural), vegetables consumption, cat keeping, eating underdone and roasted meat (P>0.1).Conclusion The results of this study revealed that 86.9% of female students were seronegative and at high risk for acquiring infection, thus they should be educated to prevent contracting congenital toxoplasmosis during the period of pregnancy.