title: High frequency detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in human neonatal tissue from Libya.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that causes significant disease in humans. Toxoplasmosis is normally asymptomatic, unless associated with congenital transmission, or in immunocompromised people. Congenital transmission generally occurs at low frequencies. In this study, we use PCR to investigate possible congenital transmission of T. gondii during pregnancy in a cohort of mothers from Libya.
  
  
  
  Two hundred and seventy two pregnant women (producing 276 neonates) were recruited to obtain umbilical cord tissue from their neonates at birth; DNA was extracted from that tissue and tested for T. gondii DNA using two specific PCR protocols based on the sag 1 and sag 3 genes.
  
  
  
  Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in the umbilical cord DNA from 27 of the 276 neonates giving a prevalence of 9.9% (95% CI 6.8-13.9%). Compared with more commonly reported rates of congenital transmission of 0.1% of live births, this is high. There was no association of infection with unsuccessful pregnancy.
  
  
  
  This study shows a high frequency presence of T. gondii DNA associated with neonatal tissue at birth in this cohort of 276 neonates from Libya. Although PCR cannot detect living parasites, there is the possibility that this indicates a higher than usual frequency of congenital transmission.
authors: Biomedical Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK.
authors: Sameena Z H
authors: SZ
authors: Haq
authors: Biomedical Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK.|Misurata Central Hospital, PO Box 65 Misurata, Libya.
authors: Muftah S
authors: MS
authors: Abushahama
authors: Biomedical Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK.|Misurata Central Hospital, PO Box 65 Misurata, Libya.
authors: Omar
authors: O
authors: Gerwash
authors: Biomedical Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK.
authors: Jacqueline M
authors: JM
authors: Hughes
authors: Biomedical Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK.
authors: Elizabeth A
authors: EA
authors: Wright
authors: Misurata Central Hospital, PO Box 65 Misurata, Libya.
authors: Mohamed S
authors: MS
authors: Elmahaishi
authors: Biomedical Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK.|Center for Parasitic Organisms, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.|Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK.
authors: Zhao-Rong
authors: ZR
authors: Lun
authors: Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK.
authors: Denise
authors: D
authors: Thomasson
authors: Biomedical Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK g.hide@salford.ac.uk.|Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK.
authors: Geoff
authors: G
authors: Hide
mesh_terms: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008002:Libya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D015995:Prevalence; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: Congenital infection; Libya; PCR; Toxoplasma gondii; miscarriage; neonatal