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Aim In spite of the importance of toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis among the high‐risk groups, such as pregnant women, the infections are categorized as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. infections can cause systemic and ocular diseases in infants during pregnancy. In this study, we investigated seroprevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis and their co‐infection in pregnant women and non‐pregnant women referred to the healthcare facilities of Ilam province, west of Iran. Methods A total of 378 sera samples (189 pregnant women and 189 non‐pregnant women) was investigated for the presence of IgG antibodies against T. gondii and Toxocara spp. by Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The samples of all pregnant women with abortion (56 cases) were also evaluated for IgM anti‐toxoplasmosis antibody by ELISA method. Moreover, associated factors were obtained from the participant's questionnaires. Data analysis for this study was performed using the spss software version 20. Results Seroprevalence of T. gondii, Toxocara spp., and their co‐infection in pregnant women was 39.7%, 21.2% and 9.5%, respectively. Regarding the risk factors, the contact with a cat (P = 0.04) and dog (P = 0.00) were significantly associated with T. gondii and Toxocara spp., respectively. Conclusion This study highlighted the importance of serological diagnosis before pregnancy. Moreover, we believe that more epidemiological studies are needed for a better understanding of overlaps between T. gondii and Toxocara spp. in pregnant women.

Background and objectives: Toxocariasis is one of the most important pathogens transmitted to humans through the soil. Temperature 12-37°C provides the best conditions for infecting eggs to be transmitted to humans, dogs, and other hosts. This study is preliminary in order to detect Toxocara eggs in public park soils and to study the correlation between seasons and climate variation with contamination rate. Methodology: A total of 1132 soil samples were collected over the course of the year, from 11 major parks. A centrifugal-floatation technique with the utilization of saturated sodium nitrate solution was used to examine the soil samples to recover Toxocara spp eggs. Results: Out of 1132 samples collected from public park soils, 129 (11.39%) samples were positive for Toxocara spp eggs, Laleh Park in south part showed the highest contamination rate. Contamination rate varied according to the site of parks, location with the highest rate in the south followed by center and the prevalence of eggs is high in spring and autumn without significant association. The prevalence of Toxocara spp eggs in soil associated significantly with Average temperature and rainfall (P = 0.04, 0.001 respectively). Conclusion: According to our study findings, soils of the public parks in Tehran showed as one of the main sites for contamination with Toxocara spp eggs. The prevalence of soil contamination varied according to a climate of different seasons, spring and autumn climate such as temperature and rainfall rate were considered as optimal condition for eggs development and to survive.