Seroprevalence of Syphilis among Pregnant Women in Khartoum State, Sudan

Abstract

This cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted in Khartoum, Sudan, during the period from April to June 2014. Blood samples from one hundred (100) pregnant women in different gestational period and have different ages attending Omdurman Maternity Hospital and Almotakaml Medical Center, were collected to detect seroprevalence of syphilis. All serum samples were tested for syphilis using two screening serological tests Rapid Plasma Reagin Test (R P R) and Rapid Syphilis Test (RST). Reactive specimens with one or both of the screening tests were further assayed with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). From this study, 4% were positive by RPR test and 2% by RST, and when confirmatory by ELISA the specific treponemal antibodies were detected in 2% pregnant women. Among the two positive cases one showed history of previous abortion while the other one had no previous abortion. No history of genital ulcers showed in positive cases. The two positive cases was among the age group 23-27 year and among age group 28-32 year. The two positive cases was detected among the third and fourth gestational period.