Plasmodium parasites, transmitted to human blood via the bite of the Anopheles mosquito, cause malaria, an acute and severe disease that can potentially be fatal. These parasites and their mosquito vectors proliferate in warmer climates and, therefore, are more prevalent in certain regions. In 2021, fifty percent of the global population was at risk of malaria. Although this disease can affect any individual, specific demographic groups, including young children, pregnant women, neonates, and immunocompromised individuals, are more susceptible to infection and are at higher risk of mortality. Among Plasmodium species, only P. falciparum causes cerebral malaria and is behind the most severe symptoms and fatalities. The pathogenesis of Plasmodium malaria is associated with the downstream signaling pathways and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) of innate immunity. Owing to the potential role of TLRs in the pathophysiology of malaria, TLR gene polymorphisms may be subject to selection pressure in communities where the disease is endemic. This review paper summarizes the prevailing knowledge of the fundamental characteristics of TLRs and their role in malaria disease. In addition, it throws light on the potential role of the TLR signaling system in malaria pathogenesis.

Background: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a major cause of congenital infections. It is more widespread in developing countries and communities with low socioeconomic status. The infection can cause pregnancy loss or spontaneous abortion. Tests are available for the detection of HCMV IgG and IgM antibodies. Many pregnant women in Blue Nile State, Sudan, have suffered from recurrent pregnancy loss, and currently there is no available data concerning the prevalence of HCMV in Blue Nile state. This study aimed to determine HCMV antibodies (IgG and IgM) among pregnant women, who had undergone abortion(s), attending El-Damazin Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynecology. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional hospital-based study. 270 pregnant women, who had undergone abortion(s) and who attended El-Damazin Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynecology, were included in the study from September to December 2018. Personal and clinical data were collected directly from each participant into a predesigned questionnaire. Serum samples were separated and stored at -20˚C until used. Samples were analyzed for HCMV IgG and IgM using enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Participants were categorized into three age groups: 15-25 years (33.7%; 91/270); 26-40 years (62.2%; 168/270); and >41 years (4.1%; 11/270). The majority of the participants had IgG antibodies to HCMV (74.8%; 202/270), while only 13.3% (36/270) had IgM antibodies to HCMV. Most abortion cases were documented in the first trimester (85.6%; 231/270) and this had a significant relationship with IgG level (P=0.003). Low socioeconomic status was recorded in 84.8% (229/270) of participants and showed significant correlation with IgG level (P=0.025), whereas illiteracy was reported in 41.9% (113/270) of participants and did not have a significant relationship. Conclusions: Seroprevalence of HCMV in this study population was 74.8% for IgG antibodies. There was an association between HCMV IgG level and first trimester abortion and low socioeconomic status among the studied women.

Introduction: The majority of human infections with Toxoplasma gondii produce no symptoms, but in congenitally infected children can cause devastating effects including blindness, brain damage, or miscarriage. Transmission to the fetus occurs predominantly in women who acquire their primary infection during gestation. The study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) in different areas of Asmara, Eritrea, and to identify possible risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis among pregnant women attending the ANC centers. Methods: In this cross-sectional laboratory-based study, the data were collected from 210 pregnant women in four health facilities. Voluntary sampling technique and a structured questionnaire were used to collect the associated data and socio-demographic information. Cobas e411 Analyzer was used to test the blood serum for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies. Epi-Info version 7.0 was used for data entry and SPSS version 20.0 was used for data analysis. Results: Of the 210 samples, 112 (53.6%) samples were seropositive and 97 (46.4%) samples were seronegative for T. gondii specific IgG antibody. Furthermore, 2.9% (6) of the samples were seropositive and 97.1% (203) of the samples were seronegative for T. gondii-specific IgM antibodies. Conclusion: The seroprevalence was considerably high, 53.6% for IgG antibody and 2.9% for IgM antibody, which require attention in order to implement preventive control measures, screening tests, and health education.

The Almanagil province located in Gezira scheme, Gezira state, Sudan, represents a suitable environment for the breeding of malaria-carrying mosquitoes. An estimated 5.9% of Sudanese people suffer from malaria, with 87.6% of cases caused by Plasmodium falciparum and 12.4% by Plasmodium vivax. Clinical manifestation of malaria cases range from mild uncomplicated to severe and fatal complications and the genetic variants and multiplicity of falciparum infection can worsen the manifestations of malaria. The objective of this work is to determine the degree of genetic variation in P. falciparum infection in a high-transmission region of central Sudan by analyzing merozoite surface protein-1 (msp1) and merozoite surface protein-2 (msp2) variations. During the rainy season of 2022, Eighty-nine children with confirmed severe falciparum malaria whom admitted to Almanagil Pediatric Hospital were included in this study. Dry blood spots were used to extract the DNA and amplification of three msp1 and two of msp2 allelic subfamilies, namely K1, RO33 and MAD20 and FC27 and IC/3D7, respectively. The data was analyzed by using SPSS computer program (v 23.0). The three genetic subfamilies of msp1 (K1, RO33 and MAD20) and the two alleles of msp2 (FC27 and IC/3D7) were identified. Msp1 variants represent K1 (64/89, 71.9%), RO33 (56/89, 62.9%) and MAD20 (72/89, 80.9%), while msp2 diversity represents ICI/3D7 (52/89, 58.4%), FC27 (62/89, 69.6%) and ICI/3D7/FC27(33/89, 37.1%). The MAD20 and FC27 showed high genetic diversity among both genes respectively. RO33 allele shows a strong association with severity of falciparum malaria (OR 2.572, P 0.045 ), while the K1 was the lowest risk factor for malaria severity. The allele subfamily K1 and MAD20 of msp1 were associated with hypoglycemia (OR 4.21 and 2.91) respectively. Our study revealed high genetic polymorphisms of msp1 and msp2. Among Central Sudanese children with high MOI of P. falciparum isolates, there was a significant frequency of msp1, a strong association between the K1 allele and hypoglycemia, and a substantial association between the RO33 and MAD20 alleles with the severity of the infection. These findings could help develop malaria control strategies.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is one of the most serious blood coccidian parasite infections in veterinary and medical medicine, contributing to ill health and financial losses infecting about one-third of the world’s population. It can produce life-threatening infections, despite the fact that most infections are asymptomatic. Several studies in Sudan reveal that the prevalence of toxoplasmosis was high especially among pregnant women resulting in Fetal death, premature birth, intrauterine growth retardation. involvement the attention to improvements in management and personal hygiene, raising awareness; control of cats, avoiding raw and undercooked meat should be done to reduce the prevalence and controlling Toxoplasmosis among the population.

Background: Blood group antigens are a representation of some personal traits. Objectives: To determine the frequency of ABO, Rhesus and Kell blood group phenotypes among blood donors in the Al-Jouf region, Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods: 980 donors were included in retrospective study design. Data was collected from blood donor records from July 2022 to January 2023 at Al-Jouf Central Blood Bank. ABO, Rhesus phenotypes (D, C, E, e, c), and K antigen have been detected in the blood bank using the fully automated Bio-Rad IH-500. Results: Regarding the ABO system, the O phenotype was the most common among the donors (approximately 45.7%), and followed by A (25.4%) and B (24.9%), while the AB group had the lowest number (4%). Analysis of Rhesus blood group phenotypes demonstrated that 89.3% of donors were Rh D positive and 10.7% were Rh D negative. Other Rhesus antigens were found in variable percentages; the e antigen was the most prevalent among donors (99.2%),followed by the c and C antigens (72.7% and 69.2%, respectively), and the E antigen was the least prevalent (22.8%). Only 0.3% of donors were positive for Cw. Accordingly, the DCce phenotype (24.9%) was the most common Rh phenotype among donors, followed by DCe and Dce (22.8% and 20.2%,respectively). CE and CEe phenotypes had the lowest prevalence among donors(0.1%). Out of 980 donors, 178 donor (18.2%) had the Kell antigen (K). Conclusion: The most prevalent blood group among donors was O Rh D+ while the most prevalent Rhesus antigen was the e antigen. The most common Rhesus phenotype among donors was DCce. Reporting Rh phenotypes and Kell antigen (K) is extremely important from a clinical standpoint, especially during pregnancy and blood transfusions as it can improve maternal and fetal care and enhance safer blood transfusion.