New approach to differentiate primary from latent Toxoplasma gondii abortion through immunoglobulin and DNA interpretation.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii is an acute or latent zoonotic abortifacient human protozoan. Women may be aborted due to recent or latent infection during pregnancy or order to flare up of the dormant bradyzoites to acute tachyzoites (latent opportunistic relapse). AIMS: 1) to validate the interpretation of IgM and IgG immunoglobulins seromonotoring with DNA comparative results in differentiating recent from latent T. gondii abortion. METHOD: Blood with the corresponding placental or uterine wash samples were collected from 73 aborted Egyptian women from Cairo and Giza labour wards. Patients aborted in any of the phases (Ph-1, Ph-2, Ph-3 and Ph-4 were corresponding to abortion at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters plus females who gave birth with congenital anomalies), respectively. All aborted patients were assayed serologically by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for IgM and IgG titers and the compatible DNA from placenta and uterine wash tissues by conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) specific for T. gondii. RESULTS: Sero-positive aborted women were 50.7% by ELISA versus 37% by PCR. Not all T. gondii sero-positive aborted women were having T. gondii DNA or harboring compatible placental T. gondii cysts. This denotes that immunoglobulins alone are insufficient criteria for confirming toxoplasma abortion. CONCLUSION: Immunoglobulins with DNA comparative results can possibly differentiate recent from latent T. gondii abortion at higher precision. We recommend the need for routine monitoring of T. gondii i.e. (pre-, during and post-delivery).

Prevalence and phylogenetic characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from processed meat marketed in Egypt.

Because of its high case fatality rate, listeriosis locates among the most frequent causes of death due to food-borne illness. In this study, a total of 150 processed meat samples were collected from Giza Governorate, Egypt. Phenotypic and genotypic identification of Listeria monocytogenes was performed using PCR incorporating listeriolysin O virulence gene hlyA followed by DNA sequence analysis. L. monocytogenes was confirmed in 4% of each of beef burger, minced meat, and luncheon samples. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all the six Egyptian isolates have high homology with Colombian isolate (EF030606), except one Egyptian isolate which showed high homology with Indian isolate (EU840690). The public health significance of these pathogens as well as recommended sanitary measures were discussed.