Iranian Journal of Parasitology最新文献

{"title":"<i>In Vitro</i> Assessment of Anthelmintic Activities of AgO Nanoparticle against Liver Fluke <i>Dicrocoelium dendriticum</i>.","authors":"Mohsen Arbabi, Atefeh Haddad, Seyed Mostafa Hosseipour Mashkani, Hossein Hooshyar","doi":"10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18103","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18103","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dicrocoeliasis is an important helminthic zoonosis reported from many parts of the world. Due to low-performance medications, drug delivery is a great challenge in improving the treatment of this liver fluke infection. We aimed to determine the anthelmintic properties of Nanosilver oxide (AgO) against <i>Dicrocoelium dendriticum</i> infection.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The impacts of various concentrations of AgO nanoparticles (50-200 μg/ml) for 12-24 hours were compared with closantel, a chemical drug. The anthelmintic efficacy was evaluated using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. The synthesized nanoparticles were analyzed for structural assessment using XRD, UV-VIS spectroscopy, and SEM. The XRD pattern shows the formation of AgO nanoparticles.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The UV-VIS spectra showed the broad peak, corresponding to Ag nanoparticles. SEM images of treated parasites by AgO (200 μg/ml) showed severe damage, which includes complete loss of sensory papillae and destruction of prominent network structures and tegument vesicles. The mortality rate increases with the increase in the concentration and exposure time of the parasite to nanoparticles. Besides the MTT assay, the toxicity of AgO, at concentrations of 800 μg/ml was 8.7%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>AgO NPs have potent anthelmintic effects on liver fluke <i>D. dendriticum</i>. This is the first research that assessed the effect of AgO NP on liver fluke <i>D. dendriticum</i>. Hence, the present study provides a basis for future research on the control of this common trematode.</p>","PeriodicalId":14669,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Parasitology","volume":"20 1","pages":"32-43"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11978202/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143971736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative Analysis of Microscopy, Leishmanin Skin Test (LST), and Direct Agglutination Test (DAT) for the Diagnosis of Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.","authors":"Mohammad Hamedanipour, Mohammad Barati, Zahra Mirabedini, Mehdi Mohebali, Alireza Latifi, Zahra Kakooei","doi":"10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18101","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18101","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a highly infectious parasitic disease in Iran. Although various diagnostic methods are available, identifying a sensitive and specific approach remains essential for effective treatment and disease management. We aimed to compare microscopy, the <i>Leishmanin</i> Skin Test (LST), and the Direct Agglutination Test (DAT) for diagnosis of human CL.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Fifty samples were obtained from clinically suspected CL cases. The results of conventional methods, including microscopy, the LST, and the DAT, were then compared among these samples. For microscopical examination considered a gold standard, smears were stained with Giemsa 10% and then examined for the observation of amastigote forms for the LST, 0.1 ml of standard <i>Leishmanin</i> solution was intradermally injected into positive patients, and then indurations were measured after 48-72 hours; an induration of ≥5 mm was considered positive. Additionally, anti-<i>Leishmania</i> antibodies were detected using DAT on positive collected serum samples.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 50 samples collected from individuals suspected of CL, 66% (33/50) of them showed positive results using microscopic examination. Among these 33 patients diagnosed with CL, 9% (3/33) tested positive in the LST, and only 1 (3%) patient showed specific antibodies against <i>Leishmania</i> using DAT.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The microscopy method appears to be more suitable for diagnosing CL. However, there is a clear need for additional diagnostic methods with more validity for CL.</p>","PeriodicalId":14669,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Parasitology","volume":"20 1","pages":"13-20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11978211/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144004683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Histopathologic Alterations between <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto</i> and <i>E. canadensis</i> Genotypes of Human Cystic Echinococcosis Cysts in Shiraz, Iran.","authors":"Enayat Darabi, Seyed Mahmoud Sadjjadi, Tahereh Mohammadzadeh, Mehdi Karamian, Seyed Mohammad Owji, Bahareh Sedaghat","doi":"10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18102","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>We aimed to determine the genotypes of <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i> (<i>s.l.</i>) using DNA regions within the <i>NADH dehydrogenase subunit-1</i> (<i>nad1</i>) mitochondrial genes in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) isolates of human cystic echinococcosis cysts (CE cysts) and compare their histopathologic alterations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Out of 135 samples, 21 high-quality PCR positive samples were selected for sequencing and were deposited into GenBank database. Moreover, histopathological changes of <i>E. granulosus sensu stricto</i> (G1 genotype) and <i>E. canadensis</i> (G6 genotype) cases were also compared.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Based on the sequencing results, 16 cases were diagnosed as <i>E. granulosus s.s.</i> (G1-G3 genotype) and 5 cases as <i>E. canadensis</i> (G6 genotype). Five haplotypes of <i>E. granulosus</i> were identified from 21 <i>nad1</i> sequences. The histopathological alterations in both genotypes showed laminated layer of CE without inflammatory cells. In a few cases of the G6 genotype, neutrophils in the outer cuticular layer with mild vascular and congestion were observed. Cell debris with multiple areas of necrosis, as well as scanty lymphoplasma cells in the outer cuticular layer were observed in G1-G3 genotype cases. So, the histopathological differences between the two genotypes are not noticeable enough to be differentiated by microscopical observations.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong><i>E. granulosus s.s.</i> (G1-G3) and <i>E. canadensis</i> (G6 genotype) are prevalent among CE patients. In general, five haplotypes were identified by <i>nad1</i> genes analysis. The histopathological differences between the two genotypes have not been so big to be differentiated by microscopic observations.</p>","PeriodicalId":14669,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Parasitology","volume":"20 1","pages":"21-31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11978209/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144018487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High Prevalence of <i>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</i> Genotype BEB6 in Wild Boars in Lorestan Province, Iran: Potential Source of Zoonotic Transmission.","authors":"Ehsan Javanmard, Hanieh Mohammad Rahimi, Ali Taghipour, Sara Nemati, Mehdi Mohebali, Mostafa Rezaeian, Ali Badrifar, Elham Kazemirad, Hamed Mirjalali","doi":"10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18113","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18113","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>We aimed to investigate the prevalence of <i>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</i> and the circulating genotypes in wild boar in the western regions of Iran.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Fifty-two fecal samples were collected from wild boars in Lorestan province, Iran. After DNA extraction, the presence of <i>E. bieneusi</i> was evaluated by real-time PCR. A nested PCR targeting the internal transcribed region (ITS) was employed to characterize genotypes. The PCR products were sequenced, and the genetic diversity and relationships among the genotypes were identified using MEGA X and DnaSp (V5) software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sixteen (30%) samples were positive for <i>E. bieneusi</i> using real-time PCR, and 11 (21%) were positive for nested PCR, which was sequenced. All 11 positive samples were identified as the BEB6 genotype (Group 2). The haplotype diversity was noted to be 0.182, and the nucleotide diversity, calculated using DnaSp, was 0. 00085.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings highlight the high prevalence of the genotype BEB6 in wild boars. The presence of this genotype suggests the circulation of <i>E. bieneusi</i> between domesticated animals and wild boars in Iran.</p>","PeriodicalId":14669,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Parasitology","volume":"20 1","pages":"130-139"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11978206/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143988444","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High Prophylactic Efficacy of Thymol Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles for Controlling Acute Toxoplasmosis in Mice.","authors":"Mohammad Amin Ghobadi, Hossein Mahmoudvand, Amal Khudair Khalaf, Fatemeh Azadbakht, Marzieh Rashidipour, Iraj Salimikia","doi":"10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18110","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Given the significant role of chitosan nanoparticles in medicine, the present study aimed to assess the <i>in vivo</i> efficacy of synthesized chitosan nanoparticles coated with thymol (CNCT) in combating <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> infection.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Mice were administered CNCT orally at dosages ranging from 0.25 to 0.75 mg/kg/day for a duration of 14 days. Following this treatment, they were infected with <i>T. gondii</i> tachyzoites of the Rh strain to induce acute toxoplasmosis. Then, the mortality rate, parasite load, antioxidant activity, and the gene expression level of proinflammatory cytokines were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The dimensions of CNTN exhibit variability, with a mean size of 295 nm. The prophylactic administration of CNTN in mice infected with T. gondii resulted in a significant enhancement in survival rates and a considerable decrease in parasite load (<i>P</i><0.001). The CNTN caused a significant decrease in malondialdehyde level, while a notable increase (<i>P</i> < 0.001) in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes. The feeding the mice infected with CNTN caused a meaningful elevation in the expression level of TNFα- and IL-1β (<i>P</i><0.001). The biochemical analyses indicated no significant changes in the serum levels of liver and kidney function markers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The recent study revealed that CNTN demonstrates promising <i>in vivo</i> effects against toxoplasmosis in murine models. These effects are attributed to its antioxidant properties and immunomodulatory capabilities, which increase specific pro-inflammatory cytokines without any noticeable signs of toxicity to liver and kidney function.</p>","PeriodicalId":14669,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Parasitology","volume":"20 1","pages":"100-110"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11978204/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144002985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study of <i>Trichinella</i> spp. Seroprevalence in Horse Population of West Azerbaijan, Northwestern Iran.","authors":"Zanyar Pirkani, Arash Araghi-Sooreh, Fateme Kamalinejad","doi":"10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18112","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18112","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>We aimed to determine the seroprevalence of <i>Trichinella</i> in horses in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran a region known for its wildlife interactions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study was conducted in March 2016 across four cities in West Azerbaijan: Urmia, Chaldoran, Sardasht, and Khoy, Iran. A total of 184 equines, ranging from three to over ten years of age, were randomly sampled. Blood samples were collected and were analyzed using the ID Screen® <i>Trichinella</i> Indirect Multi-species ELISA to detect antibodies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 184 serum samples, 4 (4.3%) from northern counties and 2 (2.2%) from southern counties tested positive for trichinellosis. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests indicated no significant correlations between age, gender, or residential location and disease prevalence. The logistic regression model was not statistically significant (<i>P</i> = 0.754), revealing that these demographic factors do not substantially influence trichinellosis risk in the studied equines.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides crucial insights into the low seroprevalence of <i>Trichinella</i> in horses in West Azerbaijan, suggesting that equines may not be primary reservoirs of the parasite despite overlapping habitats with infected wildlife.</p>","PeriodicalId":14669,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Parasitology","volume":"20 1","pages":"122-129"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11978216/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144010500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating the Lethal Effects of Carvone on the Protoscoleces of Hydatid Cyst, <i>In Vitro</i> and <i>Ex Vivo</i>.","authors":"Hossein Mahmoudvand, Amal Khudair Khalaf, Ezatollah Fazeli Moghadam, Javad Ghasemian Yadegari, Ahmad Adineh, Amir Jalili","doi":"10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18109","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18109","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Medicinal plants and their derivatives due to having high availability, low cost, low toxicity, and high efficacy are recognized as significant reservoirs of a diverse array of valuable therapeutic compounds. We aimed to investigate the lethal effects of carvone (CV) on protoscoleces of hydatid cyst, in laboratory and <i>ex vivo</i> conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The protoscolicidal effects of CV were investigated both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>ex vivo</i> on hydatid cyst protoscoleces using the eosin exclusion assay. Furthermore, the impact of CV on the induction of apoptosis and DNA damage in the protoscoleces was assessed through a colorimetric protease assay and Real-time PCR analysis, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CV, particularly at a concentration of 150 μg/ml, effectively eradicated protoscoleces of hydatid cysts within a 20-minute exposure period. Furthermore, CV exhibited sustained anti-parasitic effects in the <i>ex vivo</i>, leading to the complete elimination of hydatid cyst protoscoleces after a 30-minute exposure, in contrast to its immediate lethal effects observed in vitro. CV concentrations of 1/3 IC₅₀, 1/2 IC₅₀, and IC₅₀ (<i>P</i> < 0.001) resulted in caspase-3 activation levels of 11.3%, 19.8%, and 28.4%, respectively. The expression levels of the <i>EgATM</i> and <i>EgP53</i> genes significantly upregulated after treatment with CV (<i>P</i><0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings demonstrated the potential of CV to eliminate protoscoleces by inducing apoptosis and causing DNA damage. However, further studies are required to clarify the specific mechanisms underlying its action and to assess its efficacy in clinical trials, which may facilitate the application of CV in the context of hydatid cyst surgical procedures.</p>","PeriodicalId":14669,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Parasitology","volume":"20 1","pages":"91-99"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11978205/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144012795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of the Scolicidal Effect of Bile: An <i>Ex Vivo</i> Study.","authors":"Yahya Alperen Bayraktar, Mehmet Ali Eryılmaz, Mehmet Eşref Ulutaş, Alpaslan Şahin, Gürcan Şimşek, Şerife Yüksekkaya","doi":"10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18108","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18108","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Approximately 25% of hepatic hydatid cysts rupture into the biliary tract. The precise effect of bile within the cyst on protoscoleces remains unclear. We aimed to elucidate the effect of bile on protoscoleces.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The contents of hydatid cysts from the livers of three sheep were aspirated under sterile conditions. The aspirated contents were divided into 50 separate Eppendorf tubes (5 cc). Samples from each tube were stained with 0.1% eosin Y. Pink stained protoscoleces were considered dead under light microscopy (×100). A total of 100 protoscoleces were counted in each sample, and the number of live and dead protoscoleces was recorded. The tubes were randomly divided into five groups. Group 1 served as the control, Group 2 received normal saline (NS), Group 3, received hypertonic saline, Group 4 received bile, and Group 4 received diluted bile. The number of live and dead protoscoleces was recorded at the end of the first and second hours.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared to the initial count of live protoscoleces, the number of live protoscoleces increased at hours 1 and 2 in Groups 2 and 4. No live protoscoleces remained at hours 1 and 2 in Group 3. There was no significant change in Group 5. When compared to the control group, a significant increase in viability was observed only in Group 4 (<i>P</i>=0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Bile of sheep does not exhibit scolicidal effects; rather, it positively affects protoscoleces by increasing viability.</p>","PeriodicalId":14669,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Parasitology","volume":"20 1","pages":"83-90"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11978201/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144005307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beyond the Usual Suspects: A Genetic Perspective on Toxoplasmosis-Related Recurrent Abortion and IL-18.","authors":"Haewon Byeon","doi":"10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18117","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18117","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14669,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Parasitology","volume":"20 1","pages":"158-160"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11978214/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144015786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Serological Evaluation and Molecular Genotyping of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Pregnant Women in Meshkin-Shahr District, Northwestern Iran.","authors":"Shabnam Asfaram, Zabih Zarei, Roghayeh Teimoorpour, Zahra Heidari, Sohrab Iranpour, Payman Azghani, Seyed Eghbal Motavallibashi, Zahra Rakhshidan, Zahra Khademi, Behnam Mohammadi-Ghalehbin, Shahram Habibzadeh, Soheila Molaei","doi":"10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18104","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>We aimed to investigate the serological and molecular characteristics of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> infection among pregnant women and their aborted placentas in Meshkin-Shahr City during 2019-2020.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Blood samples of 210 pregnant women were evaluated for anti-<i>T. gondii</i> antibodies and related risk factors were determined. Also, the sera of aborted women and their buffy coats and aborted placenta tissues were used to detect anti-<i>Toxoplasma</i> antibodies and the parasite's DNA, respectively. The parasite genotypes were determined by the PCR-RFLP using the <i>SAG3</i> gene.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overall prevalence of anti-<i>Toxoplasma</i> IgG was 24.3% and only 1% of participants were seropositive for the IgM antibody. There was a significant relationship between raw or unwashed vegetable consumption, contact with soil, vegetable/fruit washing type, and seropositivity (<i>P</i><0.05). During pregnancy, 4.7% of women encountered an abortion and 30% and 50% of cases were positive for IgG antibodies before and after abortion, respectively. Only two cases were IgM seropositive after abortion. In the avidity IgG test, 20% of cases showed low avidity. BLAST and phylogenetic analysis exhibited that all isolates belonged to the type III <i>T. gondii</i> genotype. Although two women with spontaneous abortions showed seropositivity for IgM <i>T. gondii</i> antibody, parasite DNA was detected in three cases.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The seroprevalence of <i>Toxoplasma</i> infection is not high in pregnant women. Seropositive women are not safe from congenital transmission. <i>T. gondii</i> type III is the etiology of fetus infection in mothers with spontaneous abortion. It seems that screening and essential care are still necessary during pregnancy.</p>","PeriodicalId":14669,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Parasitology","volume":"20 1","pages":"44-53"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11978203/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144009764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}