Seroprevalence of Rubella Virus among Pregnant Women in the Red Sea Region of Sudan
Anass M. Abbas *
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Al Jouf 72388, Saudi Arabia.
Manar G. Shalabi
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Al Jouf 72388, Saudi Arabia.
Magdi B. Muzamil
Medical Laboratory Program-School of Medicine - Alyarmouk Medical College, Khartoum, Sudan.
Abdulrab Ahmed M. Alkhanjaf
Molecular Diagnostics, Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia.
Hatem Mohamed
Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia.
Hasan Ejaz
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Al Jouf 72388, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: We aimed to investigate the occurrence of the rubella virus among pregnant women, including those who had a history of abortions in the Red Sea region of Sudan.
Study design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Port Sudan referral tertiary hospital.
Methodology: Blood samples were collected at random from 100 participants who were pregnant or had a history of abortion and who were referred to the hospital. Side flow chromatography immunoassay was used for detection, and the Elisa technique was used for confirmation.
Results: From a total of 100 participants, rubella virus Immunoglobulin G (IgG) was detected in 20 (20%), and 80 were seronegative (80%). The seronegative Immunoglobulin M (IgM) was 0 (00.0%), with no participant had a recent infection. The prevalence of 11 rubella virus IgG was significantly high (P = .003) among the females who had abortions 61 (61%). However, no statistically significant relationship was found with the frequency of IgG of rubella virus and age, gestational age, level of education, or occupation.
Conclusion: The study concluded that the prevalence of rubella infections was higher among pregnant females and who had a history of abortions in the Red Sea region. The detection of human rubella virus IgG previous infection was higher than IgG recent infection.
Keywords: IgM and IgG antibodies, rubella virus, abortion, Red Sea region, Sudan