Abd Ewahid Mohammed Ahmed Elrofai
1, Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim Ahmed
2, Mosab Nouraldein Mohammed Hamad
3* 
, Nahla Ahmed Mohammed Abdurrahman
4, Elamin Elawad Ali
5, Wadie Mohammed Yasin Elmadhoun
6, Nassreden Khalid Abdelrahman
71 Department of Zoology, Faculty of Primary Education, Nile Valley University, Khartoum, Sudan
2 Department Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Nile Valley University, Khartoum, Sudan
3 Phylum of Medical Parasitology, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Science, Elsheikh Abdallah Elbadri University, Berber, Sudan
4 Department Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Nile Valley University, Khartoum, Sudan
5 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Nile Valley University, Khartoum, Sudan
6 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Sudan International University, Khartoum, Sudan
7 Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Al Fashir, Al Fashir, Sudan
Abstract
Introduction: The present study aimed to find the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis and assess its associated risk factors among pregnant women.
Methods: This retrospective hospital-based study was carried out in the period between January 2009 and December 2010 in Eldammar, River Nile State, Sudan. Chi-square was used for trend analysis, and P value was used to declare the statistical significance between the variables.
Results: A total of 383 pregnant women (age range: 16–45 years) visiting Eldammar teaching hospital and other health centers for antennal care were selected. Using latex agglutination test (LAT), 74.7% (285/383) were positive for toxoplasmosis . ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) was used for IgM & IgG confirmatory, and the results showed that 26% (74/285) and 34.7% (99/285) were positive for toxoplasmosis. There was a significant correlation between serological evidence of toxoplasmosis and low education level, eating undercooked meat, and drinking raw milk (P<0.05).
Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women of the studied population. A positive correlation was reported between toxoplasmosis and low education level, eating undercooked meat, and drinking raw milk.