Seroprevalence and risk factors of toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women in ad-Dawadimi general hospital, kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

The present study investigated the seroprevalence of two antibodies (anti-7, gondii IgG and IgM) among the pregnant women in Ad-Dawadimi City, along with possible risk factors asso- ciated with Toxoplasma gondii.

A total of 461 pregnant women were enrolled at various stages of pregnancy, either asymptomatic or having clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of toxo-plasmosis (fever, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and rash).

A short face to face questionnaire interview for pregnant women was carried out to obtain information regard-ing T.

gondii infection.

Out of the 461 blood samples tested.

189 (40.9%) were seropositive for specific anti-7, gondii IgG antibodies.

But.

none of the women had positive IgM results.

Sero- prevalence of 7.

gondii antibodies wras high among pregnant women and the prevalence showed a corresponding increase as the age of the pregnant wromen increases.

This study shows that Toxoplasmosis is an endemic disease in Ad-Dawadimi city.

Thus, an awrareness creation pro-gram on the modes of transmission and prevention of 7.

gondii among women of child bearing age in general and pregnant women in particular should be organized during the antenatal care follow up.