Seroprevalence of visceral leishmaniasis among pregnant women in Jahrom city in Fars province, southern Iran.

ABSTRACT

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a public health issue in endemic countries with poor sanitation facilities. In this study, the seroprevalence rate and associated risk factors of VL were investigated during September 2020 to February 2021 in pregnant women referred to Ostad Mottahari and Peymanieh hospitals in Jahrom county, Fars province, southern Iran. Material and methods: A total of 220 serum samples of pregnant women were assessed for the presence of Anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies by direct agglutination antigen (DAT). The associated risk factors were obtained using questionnaires. Results: The overall seroprevalence of VL in pregnant women was 12.72% (28/220). Considering the antibody titer, titer 11600 was detected in 23 samples, titer 13200 in 4 samples, and titer 16400 in one sample. All 5 women with titer >3200 had mild fever. As such, there was a statistically significant difference regarding the age (≥39 years old with p-value 0.01). Conclusions: We recommend an appropriate health education program for pregnant women and serological screening of VL before pregnancy in endemic cities. Moreover, we believed a need for more epidemiological studies for better understand the status of VL in pregnant women.