Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women in south western, Saudi Arabia

Mona A Almushait; Saad M Bin Dajem; Nahla M Elsherbiny; Mamdoh A Eskandar; Tarik A Al Azraqi; Laila M Makhlouf

doi:10.1007/s12639-012-0195-z

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women in south western, Saudi Arabia

J Parasit Dis. 2014 Mar;38(1):4-10. doi: 10.1007/s12639-012-0195-z. Epub 2012 Nov 2.

Authors

Mona A Almushait¹, Saad M Bin Dajem², Nahla M Elsherbiny³, Mamdoh A Eskandar¹, Tarik A Al Azraqi⁴, Laila M Makhlouf³

Affiliations

¹ Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 641, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
² Biology Department, College of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
³ Microbiology and Parasitology Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 641, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Internal Medicine Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 641, Abha, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women in the south western region of Saudi Arabia and to find out the possible risk factors that may lead to infection. This cross sectional hospital based study was carried out at three hospitals in the south western region of Saudi Arabia from January 2008 to August 2010. Blood samples from 487 pregnant women were collected and used to detect anti-T. gondii antibodies IgM and IgG by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A questionnaire interview was carried out to ask about some risk factors of infection. Among the 487 studied pregnant women, 38.8 % were seropositive for anti T. gondii IgG while 6.2 % were positive for anti T. gondii IgM and 3.3 % were positive for both anti T. gondii IgG & IgM. The only risk factor associated with seropositive anti T. gondii IgM was the history of the intake of immunosuppressive drugs. Regarding anti T. gondii IgG seropositivity, it was found to increase significantly with increased age, number of gravida and parities, and previous history of toxoplasmosis. The seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG & IgM by ELISA among pregnant women in the south western region of Saudi Arabia is considerable with few identifiable significant risk factors reported.

Keywords: ELISA; Pregnant women; Risk factors; Seroprevalence; Toxoplasma gondii.