Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among females in rural areas, Qalubeya governorate, Egypt

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite of significant public health importance, being a major cause of congenital infection and abortion as well as a significant and often fatal infection in the immuno-compromised hosts. Infection by T gondii is usually asymptomatic, but it can be life threatening in fetuses whose mothers are acutely infected during pregnancy. 10 determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies and the frequency of assumed associated complications among females in childbearing period in the rural community surrounding Benha Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Qalubeya Governorate, Egypt. A total of 338 females were randomly selected from two villages scheduled in the routine Community Service Campaign Program [CSCP] of Benha Faculty of Medicine and from those attending Gynecology and Obstetrics Department, Benha University Hospital. Sera were screened for Toxoplasma IgG and IgM using enzyme immunoassay. One hundred and fifty females in the child bearing period aged from 15 to 49 years who fulfilled detailed history data, were chosen for assessment of the assumed associated risk of Toxoplasma complications, regarding unfavorable outcome of pregnancy. Of 338 sampled females, 165 [46.2%] and 17[5%] were seropositive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM, respectively, while out of 150 females in the childbearing period, corresponding results were 87 [58%] and 7 [4.7%], respectively. In the latter group, there was an observable difference in the age prevalence with peaks among 25-29 and 40-49 age groups for IgG positive females and among 25-29 and 45-49 years for IgM positive females, but this difference was statistically insignificant. There was a significant positive correlation between IgG positivity amid number of labors and also between IgM positivity amid history of congenital anomalies. The risk of abortion, congenital anomalies and stillbirth were insignificantly higher among IgG positive females. In IgM positive group, only an insignificant increased risk of congenital anomalies was observed. The IgG seroprevalence of T gondii among females in the childbearing age is relatively high [58%] indicating persistent favoring ecological circunistances. IgM seroprevalence [4.7%] suggested a potential considerable risk of primary infection during pregnancy with the subsequent risk of Toxoplasma congenital infection. Hence, it is worth considering routine antenatal screening of females as a mandatory measure, with follow up of seronegative case for possible seroconversion due to infection during pregnancy amid prompt treatment for sero-converted cases

detection of doth fasciolu gigantica circulating antigen and coproantigdn by monoctonal-based sandwich ELISA in diagnosis of human fascioliasis

Human fascioliasis is another important health challenge in Egypt. lip till now and due to many factors. its diagnosis is a problematic issue. In many eases, a considerable damage of the hepatic tissue often occurs before a proper diagnosis could he done. This in turn necessitates finding a reliable. easily applicable and locally affordable diagnostic test to overcome the diagnostic difficulties that handicap prevention and control efforts. The detection of E/S antigens in stool specimens [coproantigens] and in sera of infected humans using a MAb-based sandwich ELISA system. Stool and serum samples were collected from 35 fascioliasis patients having clinical and parasitological evidences of infection, 20 patients harboring other parasites [Schistosoma mansoni and haematobium Wuchereria bancuofti and hydatid cysts] and 25 healthy subjects. A pair of monoelonal antibodies [MAbs: 9F/10B and 5F/6H], raised against both FascioIa gigantica excretory-Secretor [E/S] products and crude antigens respectively, were employed in sandwich ELISA. The lower detection limit of E/S coproantigen assay corresponded to 15 ng/ml, while that of E/S antigen assay in serum corresponded to 50ng/ml. The anti-F gigantica MAb-based sandwich ELISA for antigen detection in collected sera showed 77% sensitivity and 100% specificity with 87% diagnostic accuracy. Coproantigen detection in stool samples showed 94% sensitivity and 100% specificity with 97% diagnostic accuracy. A positive correlation was detected between antigen level in stool samples and its level in corresponding serum samples. This study showed that the use of anti-F gigantica MAb-based sandwich ELISA was more ssensitive for antigen detection in stool samples of fascioliasms patients. Than its detection in their corresponding serum samples, providing a simple, reliable, non-invasive diagnostic method for active human infection