TOXOPLASMA INFECTION AND PREGNANCY OUTCOME IN PREGNANT FEMALES IN SAUDI ARABIA: A SINGLE CENTER STUDY

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Microbiology,Faculty of Medicine Al-Azhar University, New Damietta City, Egypt

2 Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al Baha, Saudi Arabia

3 Faculty of Medicine Al-Azhar University, New Damietta City, Egypt, Medical students

4 Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Fahd Specialist Hospital

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii. It is asymptomatic in the majority of
immunocompetent individuals who contract it. When T gondii infection is acquired during pregnancy,
the parasite can be transmitted via the placenta to fetus, causing congenital toxoplasmosis.
The present study assessed the seroprevalence of T. gondii among pregnant females in Al-
Baha, Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the aim was also to assess the consequences of infection during
pregnancy among those females. Blood samples from 173 patients were used for detection of anti-
Toxoplasma IgG & IgM. The results showed that 35(20.2%) were positive, of whom 33
(19.1%) were IgG positive and 2(1.2%) were IgG & IgM positive. Of the 33 IgG positive cases
ten with history of abortion, two history of congenital anomalies, three cases with history of intrauterine
growth retardation, and two cases with history of preterm labor. All cases consumed
not-well cooked meat, ten had pet-cats.

Keywords