SERO-PREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMOSIS IN PREGNANT MOTHERS AND NEW BORN INFANTS IN EASTERN PROVINCE, SAUDI ARABIA

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoa of worldwide distribution. In immunocompetent adults, it is usually the cause of asymptomatic infection. However, infection during pregnancy poses a special risk because of the teratogenic effect of toxoplasma. OBJECTIVE: Determine the sero-prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and newborn infants in King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Eastern Province. METHODS: In this hospital-based study, sera from 175 pregnant females were screened for toxoplasma IgG and IgM. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A very low number (N=1/175, 0.57%) of pregnant mothers seroconverted during pregnancy, although many (N=69/175, 39.4%) were recorded with inactive toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. Delivery was normal in all cases except for a small number (N=1/175, 0.57%) of newborns (as recorded from cord blood) who were positive for toxoplasmosis.