Prepregnancy Counselling in Lagos – A report on the first 1000 cases

Ajayi, G. O.; Dina, T.; Okorie, Nnaemeka C.; Popoola, Daniel

doi:10.1055/s-0028-1088893

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Although data on human toxoplasmosis are less numerous in Africa than in some other countries [13,16], they show that the seroprevalence rate, recently estimated at a global value of 48.7%, undergoes a great variability between countries [13]. Indeed, the seroprevalence rates recorded during the last decade in West Africa ranged from 20% to 70%, depending on countries [17][18][19][20], despite different methodologies used. A downward trend is recorded compared to previous periods, thus the toxoplasmosis seroprevalence decreased from 74% in 2006 [21] to 40% in 2016 [19] in Ghana, and from 54% in 1993 [22] to 49% in 2012 [23] in Cotonou, the economic capital of Benin.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Retrospective study of toxoplasmosis prevalence in pregnant women in Benin and its relation with malaria

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Globally distributed with variable prevalence depending on geography, toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. This disease is usually benign but poses a risk for immunocompromised people and for newborns of mothers with a primary infection during pregnancy because of the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis (CT). CT can cause severe damage to fetuses-newborns. To our knowledge, no study has been conducted in sub-Saharan Africa on toxoplasmosis seroprevalence, seroconversion and CT in a large longitudinal cohort and furthermore, no observation has been made of potential relationships with malaria. Methods We performed a retrospective toxoplasmosis serological study using available samples from a large cohort of 1,037 pregnant women who were enrolled in a malaria follow-up during the 2008–2010 period in a rural area in Benin. We also used some existing data to investigate potential relationships between the maternal toxoplasmosis serological status and recorded malaria infections. Results Toxoplasmosis seroprevalence, seroconversion and CT rates were 52.6%, 3.4% and 0.2%, respectively, reflecting the population situation of toxoplasmosis, without targeted medical intervention. The education level influences the toxoplasmosis serological status of women, with women with little or no formal education have greater immunity than others. Surprisingly, toxoplasmosis seropositive pregnant women tended to present lower malaria infection during pregnancy (number) or at delivery (presence) and to have lower IgG levels to Plasmodium falciparum Apical Membrane Antigen 1, compared to toxoplasmosis seronegative women. Conclusions The high toxoplasmosis seroprevalence indicates that prevention against this parasite remains important to deploy and must be accessible and understandable to and for all individuals (educated and non-educated). A potential protective role against malaria conferred by a preexisting toxoplasmosis infection needs to be explored more precisely to examine the environmental, parasitic and/or immune aspects.

show abstract