M.A.  Almushait, M.A.  Eskandar, N.M.  Elsherbiny, S.M. Bin  Dajem, T.A.  Azraqi, L.M.  Makhlouf, 
    Serological and Molecular Diagnosis of Acute Feto-Maternal Toxoplasmosis in the Southwestern Region of Saudi Arabia,
    Research Journal of Medical Sciences,
    Volume 7,Issue 5-6,
    2013,
    Pages 156-161,
    ISSN 1815-9346,
    rjmsci.2013.156.161,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjmsci.2013.156.161)
    Abstract: 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. This study 
  aimed to determine the incidence of acute maternal toxoplasmosis by a reliable 
  method and to estimate the rate of intrauterine transmission. A total of 487 
  Saudi pregnant women who had attended the three major hospitals in Southwestern 
  region, Saudi Arabia between January 2008 and August 2010 were included in the 
  study. Two blood samples were collected from each woman. Anti-<I>Toxoplasma 
  gondii</I> antibodies (IgM and IgG) were determined by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent 
  Assay (ELISA). Cord blood samples were collected from the umbilical cord after 
  delivery and anti-<I>T. gondii</I> IgM and IgA in these samples were also determined 
  by ELISA. Maternal and fetal seropositive samples were confirmed by Polymerase 
  Chain Reaction (PCR). The incidence rate of acute maternal toxoplasmosis during 
  pregnancy was 2%. Anti-<I>T. gondii</I> IgM was found in 2.4% (4/168) while 
  anti-<I>T. gondii</I> IgA was not detected in any. Infants born to mothers who 
  developed acute toxoplasmosis during pregnancy had significantly higher risk 
  (31 fold) of developing congenital toxoplasmosis. Diagnosis of acute maternal 
  toxoplasmosis during pregnancy should rely on the detection of seroconversion 
  or else PCR is mandatory for confirmation. The incidence of acute maternal toxoplasmosis 
  was considerable in this region of Saudi Arabia. Infants born to those mothers 
  had significantly higher risk of developing congenital toxoplasmosis.
    Keywords: Acute toxoplasma;pregnancy;seroconversion;diagnosis;Saudi Arabia