ABSTRACT
Background: Primary toxoplasma infection during pregnancy carries a risk of fetal damage. The most frequent challenge encountered is how to determine if a pregnant woman acquired the acute infection during gestation. We aimed to evaluate the validity of T gondii IgM in a single serum sample versus the detection of IgM seroconversion for the diagnosis of acute maternal toxoplasmosis. In addition to determining the incidence of acute toxoplasmosis among pregnant women and estimating the rate of intrauterine transmission in the Southwestern region of Saudi Arabia
Materials and Methods: For a total of 487 pregnant women, blood samples were taken at the first antenatal visit. A second sample was taken at labour for those who continued their follow up, in addition to cord blood samples. For maternal samples, anti T gondii antibodies [IgM and IgG] and for cord blood samples anti T gondii IgM and IgA were determined. Seropositive samples were confirmed by PCR
Results: The incidence rate of acute maternal toxoplasmosis during pregnancy was 2.9%. Anti T gondii IgM was found in 2.4 % of fetal cord blood, anti-T gondii IgA was not detected. Infants borne to mothers who developed acute toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, had significantly 31 times the risk to develop congenital toxoplasmosis
Conclusions: Diagnosis of acute maternal toxoplasmosis during pregnacy should rely on the detection of seroconversion. If a single positive serological sample is to rely on, PCR is mandatory for confirmation. The incidence rate of acute maternal and congenital toxoplasmosis is considerable in this region of Saudia Arabia. Infants borne to mothers who developed acute toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, had significantly higher risk to develop congenital toxoplasmosis?