Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Vitamin D3 Concentration among School Children 7-18 Years Old in Bojnurd City

Abstract

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite with relatively high prevalence in human societies. Due to the lack of information on toxoplasmosis infection in school-aged children in Bojnord, the present study aimed to assess the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in school-age students and the level of vitamin D3 deficiency in them in Bojnurd, Northeast of Iran. Method: In this cross-sectional study, the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies and their correlation with vitamin D3 deficiency were analyzed with ELISA among 361 school-aged children living in the urban areas of Bojnord. Results: Of the 361 recruited subjects, 175 (48.5%) cases were male, and 186 (51.5%) subjects were female. They were within the age range of 7-18 years. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii among school children was 6% (22/361), that were positive for T. gondii IgG, and none of the children were positive for T. gondii IgM. No significant difference was found between males and females. Seropositivity to toxoplasmosis was not significantly associated with age, gender, residential area, and having contact with cats (P>0.05). Vitamin D3 deficiency was observed only in eight students with anti-toxoplasma antibodies. Conclusion: As evidenced by the results of this study, the prevalence of toxoplasmosis among school-aged children in Bojnord is relatively low; nonetheless, vitamin D3 deficiency was observed in people with toxoplasmosis; therefore, control programs and health education are necessary to prevent toxoplasmosis in children