RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Toxoplasmosis in pregnant Sudanese women
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 868
OP 870
VO 24
IS 8
A1 Elnahas, Amir
A1 Gerais, Abd S.
A1 Elbashir, Mustafa I.
A1 Eldien, Eltoum S.
A1 Adam, Ishag
YR 2003
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/24/8/868.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to conduct a sero-epidemiological survey of toxoplasmosis in pregnant Sudanese women.METHODS: Four hundred and eighty-seven pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Khartoum and Omdurman, Maternity Hospitals, Sudan during the period June through to December 2000 were counselled for socio-demographic and obstetrical risk factors for toxoplasmosis, and screened for immunoglobin G (IgG) and IgM anti-toxoplasma antibodies using enzyme linked immunoassay.RESULTS: Immunoglobin G anti-toxoplasma antibodies were positive (titre > 11 IU/ml) in 166/487 (34.1%), while 321/487(65.9%) were sero-negative. The sera of 35 women showed very high titres (>100 IU/ml), 5/35 (14.3%) were IgM-positive. The risk factors for IgG anti-toxoplasma seropositivity were; Southern ethnic origin and consumption of raw meat. Thirty (18.1%) out of 166 women who were IgG anti-toxoplasma seropositive gave history of intrauterine fetal death, while 31 (9.7%) out of 321 women who were sero-negative gave history of intrauterine fetal death, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Over 65% Sudanese women screened for anti-toxoplasma IgG antibodies were sero-negative and they were at risk of sero-conversion during pregnancy. Southers and eating raw meat were the risk factors for toxoplasmosis in Sudanese pregnant women.