ABSTRACT
To determine the seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in Jordan, sera from 280 pregnant women were tested during the period January 2000-May 2001. Blood samples were taken after the first antenatal visit. Serum was separated and tested for Toxoplasma IgG antibodies using an indirect fluorescent antibody. Seroprevalence gradually increased with age, from 31.7% at 15-24 years to 90.0% at 35-45 years. Regression analysis showed that seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis is positively correlated with age and residence. Consumption of undercooked meat and contact with soil were significant risk factors.
Subject(s)
Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic/epidemiology , Toxoplasmosis/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Employment/statistics & numerical data , Female , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect , Food Handling , Hospitals, Military , Humans , Jordan/epidemiology , Mass Screening , Meat/parasitology , Middle Aged , Population Surveillance , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic/diagnosis , Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic/etiology , Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic/prevention & control , Regression Analysis , Residence Characteristics , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Socioeconomic Factors , Soil/parasitology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Toxoplasmosis/diagnosis , Toxoplasmosis/etiology , Toxoplasmosis/prevention & controlABSTRACT
To determine the seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in Jordan, sera from 280 pregnant women were tested during the period January 2000-May 2001. Blood samples were taken after the first antenatal visit. Serum was separated and tested for Toxoplasma IgG antibodies using an indirect fluorescent antibody. Seroprevalence gradually increased with age, from 31.7% at 15-24 years to 90.0% at 35-45 years. Regression analysis showed that seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis is positively correlated with age and residence. Consumption of undercooked meat and contact with soil were significant risk factors
Subject(s)
Pregnancy , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect , Food Handling , Hospitals, Military , Risk Factors , ToxoplasmosisABSTRACT
We set out to determine the role of toxoplasmosis, detected by serological tests, in habitual abortion. A total of 280 pregnant women aged 15-46 years with parity ranged from 0-9 were studied prospectively between January 2000 and May 2001 at King Hussein Medical Center. Analyses for IgG and IgM anti-toxoplasma were carried out using indirect fluorescent antibody assay (IFAT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Titres of the order of 1:16-1:2048 were considered positive. According to the results, women were divided into two groups; seropositive (n=132) and seronegative (n=148). One hundred and thirty-two (47.1%) pregnant women showed seropositivity to IgG anti-toxoplasma; of them, two (1.5%) developed IgM anti-toxoplasma during the second trimester. A statistically significant increase in the rate of seropositivity to toxoplasma with increasing age and parity was found (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the rate of habitual abortion between seropositive and seronegative women. The seropositivity was higher among women living in rural areas (P<0.02), who are using rainwater to drink (P<0.02), ingesting undercooked meat (P<0.001) and who have contact with soil (P<0.02). Toxoplasma antibodies detected by positive serological tests tend to be higher with increased age and parity. It seems that they have no role in habitual abortion.
Subject(s)
Abortion, Habitual/etiology , Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic , Toxoplasmosis/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic/diagnosis , Serologic Tests , Toxoplasma/immunology , Toxoplasmosis/diagnosisABSTRACT
We aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among chronic schizophrenia patients in Jordan. Over a period of 12 months, 192 patients (106 male and 86 female) were tested for hepatitis B virus (HBV) by enzyme immunoassay. An equal number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls was also tested. Of the schizophrenia patients, 14 (10 male and 4 female) were positive for HBsAg while only 5 (4 male and 1 female) of the control subjects tested positive. The difference was not statistically significant but it indicates that chronic schizophrenia patients are a risk group for HBV infection and likely to benefit from preventive measures (health education and immunization against HBV).
Subject(s)
Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Hepatitis B/etiology , Schizophrenia/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Case-Control Studies , Chronic Disease , Female , Hepatitis B/blood , Hepatitis B/immunology , Hepatitis B/prevention & control , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood , Humans , Jordan , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Admission/statistics & numerical data , Population Surveillance , Prospective Studies , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Sex Distribution , Time FactorsABSTRACT
We aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] among chronic schizophrenia patients in Jordan. Over a period of 12 months, 192 patients [106 male and 86 female] were tested for hepatitis B virus [HBV] by enzyme immunoassay. An equal number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls was also tested. Of the schizophrenia patients, 14 [10 male and 4 female] were positive for HBsAg while only 5 [4 male and 1 female] of the control subjects tested positive. The difference was not statistically significant but it indicates that chronic schizophrenia patients are a risk group for HBV infection and likely to benefit from preventive measures [health education and immunization against HBV]
Subject(s)
Age Distribution , Case-Control Studies , Chronic Disease , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens , Patient Admission , Prospective Studies , Risk Factors , Schizophrenia , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Sex Distribution , Hepatitis BABSTRACT
An outbreak of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) occurred in a battalion of 80 soldiers posted at Qurayqira camp in Wadi Araba in southern Jordan. The battalion spent an intermittent period of five and a half months in the area, during which 45.0% (36 of 80) of the soldiers showed clinical disease. Of the 44 clinically negative soldiers, 31 were tested with leishmanin and 11 (35.5%) were leishmanin positive. The number of lesions in infected soldiers ranged from one to 15 and were mostly on the face and extremities. This report shows the level of transmission of ZCL in Wadi Araba, which is presently undergoing economic expansion and development following the peace process of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
