Seroprevalence of Rubella Virus among Pregnant Women in Police Hospital (Khartoum State)

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of rubella virus among pregnant women, in Police Hospital (Khartoum State), from April to May 2016. Ninety one blood specimens were collected from pregnant women and tested for the presence of rubella virus, by antibody detection using the solid- phase Enzyme-Linked Immune sorbent Assay. Five ml of blood sample were collected from each pregnant woman and dispensed in sterile EDTA blood container. Plasma was obtained by centrifugation at 3000 g for 5 minutes. Theplasma were examined for the presence of RV IgG and IgM antibodies using enzyme linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). This study showed that rubella virus was detected in 95.6% (87/91) of the total of patients.The rate of infection increase in the second trimester. The severe symptoms and fatal outcome from rubella virus infection is due to early infection of fetus due to transplacental transmission in the first trimester of pregnancy that involve sensitive organs such as brain, heart, eye and ear. The Proper diagnosis helps to determine appropriate treatment. Use of vaccine is the most important preventive strategy.