Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection and it's Effective Factors in Butchers of Sari

ABSTRACT Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite which is capable of infecting most of the hot blooded vertebrates. This parasite has a very different prevalence rate. Enviromental conditions and patern of food consumption are effective factors on prevalence rate of infection. Due to an appropriate geographical conditions , Mazandaran province has been one of the most important areas on the basis of infection with T. gondii. This study was conducted on butchers of Sari, because the prevalence rate of infection in butchers seems to be high. The present survey which is a discriptive study, was done on all permanent workers of butchery. Blood samples of all cases were collected, and to determine the antibody titer , indirect immunofluorescence test was used. Also a questionnaire was filled up by them on the history of previous infection, contact with cats and their nutritional habbits. Results show that 87.8% of the examined butchers has a history of infection with above mentioned parasite, 70. 1% had a habbit of eating a semi-cooked meat, and 8% had a history of contact with cats in their living places. Taking into consideration, the appropriate geographical conditions and high infection rate in Sari, the health education for correction of nutritional habbits and also hand washing after handling of meats by butchers are advised in these high risk cases as a measure of control.