The value of ICT and Latex Serological tests in Screening for Toxoplasma gondii

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular zoonotic parasite responsible for infections in various warm-blooded animals and humans. This study primarily focused on evaluating the diagnostic efficacy of ICT and latex serological methods for screening Toxoplasma gondii in North Kordofan, Sudan.  Methodology: This descriptive study was conducted in El-Obeid, North Kordofan State, Sudan, from January to May 2024. A total of 260 samples were collected from women who had experienced abortions or had a previous history of such events. A blood sample was collected from each respondent to conduct serological tests, including ICT, latex, and ELISA. Results: The study involved approximately 260 women to evaluate the validity of the various techniques employed. In this research, ICT and LaTeX were compared with ELIZA as the gold standard method, yielding a positive rate of 14.6% and a negative rate of 85.4% using ICT methods. However, the results from the Latex method indicated a positivity rate of 15.8%, while the negativity rate stood at 84.2%. In ELIZA, 17.3% is positive, while 82.7% is negative. The sensitivity and specificity of the techniques employed in this study are compared with the ELISA technique, as detailed in the following tests. The sensitivity achieved through the ICT technique was 84%, while the specificity reached 100% as observed in the findings. The sensitivity and specificity obtained through the latex technique were determined to be 94% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion: Both Latex and ICT demonstrate relatively better sensitivity and very good specificity, making them suitable for screening and diagnostic purposes in conflict areas.