title: Sero-prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant mothers and new born infants in eastern province, saudi arabia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoa of worldwide distribution. In immunocompetent adults, it is usually the cause of asymptomatic infection. However, infection during pregnancy poses a special risk because of the teratogenic effect of toxoplasma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Determine the sero-prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and newborn infants in King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Eastern Province.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this hospital-based study, sera from 175 pregnant females were screened for toxoplasma IgG and IgM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A very low number (N=1/175, 0.57%) of pregnant mothers seroconverted during pregnancy, although many (N=69/175, 39.4%) were recorded with inactive toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. Delivery was normal in all cases except for a small number (N=1/175, 0.57%) of newborns (as recorded from cord blood) who were positive for toxoplasmosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Mulhim
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Al-Qurashi