Molecular Detection of Listeria monocytogenes among Sudanese Pregnant Women with Pervious Miscarriage in Khartoum State, 2017

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.