Background and study aim: Toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a major health problem in which about 30% of people are born with anti Toxoplasma antibodies worldwide. Toxoplasmosis causes congenital infection, neurological and psychatric disorders. The present study aimed to determine prevalence and factors associated with T. gondii infection in Zagazig university students in 2017-2018.
Subjects and Methods: Through a cross-sectional study, This study was done in Tropical Medicine Outpatient Clinic and Clinical Pathology Department of Zagazig University Hospitals, and including 159  healthy students coming to do clinical and laboratory evaluation before university attendance at student year 2017-2018. Serum samples were collected and tested for IgG antibodies against T. gondii using ELISA method.
Results: In this study 159 healthy students are examined for anti- toxoplasma IgG, 68 males (42.8%) and 91 females (57.2%).65 students have Positive IgG (40.9%), 25.2% (N: 40) of them showing high titre more than 300 and 15.7% (N: 25) of them showing titre low than 300. The percentage of students have no infection is 59.1% (N: 94). There was a significant association between T.gondii seropositivity and age (p=0.007), dealing with animals (p=0.001) eating fast food (p=0.002) and drinking non boiled milk (p=0.001).
Conclusion: Toxoplasmosis is present in healthy students. Infection is more prevalent in rural areas due to lack of health education and more dealing with animals. Dealing with animals, eating fast foods and drinking non boiled milk are considered a major risk factor for T.gondii infection.