title: Toxoplasmosis among pregnant women: high seroprevalence and risk factors in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women, as well as the proportion of acutely infected and risk factors in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty maternities in Kinshasa were randomly selected and women attending antenatal consultation were invited to participate. They were interviewed with a structured questionnaire about known risk factors (age, meat consumption, contact with soil, and presence of cat) and a venous blood sample was taken. Sera were analysed for total immunoglobulins (Ig) by VIDAS Toxo Competition using Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay. IgM was determined by VIDIA Toxo IgM and IgG avidity by VIDAS Toxo IgG avidity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 781 women were included. Median age was 28 years old (IQR: 8.5). And 627 women (80.3%; 95% CI: 77.5-83.1) were found to be positive to total Ig and 17 out of 387 (4.4%; 95% CI: 2.3-6.4) were positive to IgM. IgG avidity was low for 2 (11.8%) women, intermediate for 2 (11.8%) and high for 13 women (76.4%). There was no statistically significant association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and any risk factors assessed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Kinshasa, toxoplasmosis endemicity is highly prevalent. One woman out of twenty five had a recent toxoplasmosis infection and 20% were not protected against primo-infection, indicating a need for measures to prevent and control toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Kinshasa University, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Yobi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Doudou
authors.forename: Piarroux
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Renaud
authors.forename: L'Ollivier
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coralie
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jacqueline
authors.forename: Situakibanza
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hypolite
authors.forename: Muhindo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hypolite
authors.forename: Mitashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: Inocêncio da Luz Raquel
authors.initials: Ida L
authors.lastname: Andreia
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Sprundel
authors.forename: Boelaert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marleen
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Van Geertruyden
authors.forename: Lutumba
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pascal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
keywords: Kinshasa; Pregnant women; Seroprevalence; Toxoplasmosis