Abstract:
Listeria monocytogenes is an emerging food borne pathogen and
causative agent of listeriosis. Clinical manifestation of invasive listeriosis
is usually severe and includes sepsis and meningoencephalitis.
The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of L.
monocytogenes in pregnant women with spontaneous abortions or having
a history of spontaneous abortions using PCR.
In this cross sectional study, a total of 50 samples (vaginal and high
vaginal swabs) were collected from 50 women with spontaneous abortion
hospitalized in Omdurman Maternity Hospital and Alsudi Hospital in
Khartoum State. Each sample was immersed in plastic swab tube
containing 5 ml of Tris Hcl buffer (PH 8.0) and transported to research
laboratory in Sudan University of Science and Technology as soon as
possible for the direct DNA extraction and PCR.
L. monocytogenes DNA was detected from 10% samples. 3/50 (6%) and
2/50 (4%) were detected from vaginal and high vaginal swabs
respectively. The most affected age group with Listeria infection was 31-
36 years old represented 2/19 (10.5%) of aborted women. The most aborted women 3/25 (12%) with Listeria infection were had previous
abortions within second trimester.
