title: [Integrated screening for HIV, syphilis, and toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in the Central African Republic].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of syphilis and toxoplasmosis infection in pregnant women in the Central African Republic who were and were not HIV-infected, in the framework of HIV surveillance.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study included 270 HIV(+) and 217 HIV(-) pregnant women among 4 750 women who attended prenatal-care clinics throughout the Central African Republic from November 2011 through January 2012. Blood specimens were collected and serological evidence of HIV1/2 was analyzed by ELISA1 and ELISA2. The Toxoplasma gondii antibody was detected with the Toxo-Hai Fumouze(®) diagnostic kit. A VDRL test was performed to screen for syphilis in all study participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 434 samples tested, 33 (7.60%) were positive for syphilis: 21 (9.7%) among HIV(+) and 12 (5.5%) among HIV(-) women (p = 0.1031); 221 (50.90%) were positive for toxoplasmosis: 117 (53.9%) among HIV(+) and 104 (47.9%) among HIV(-) women (p = 0, 2119). Coinfection with HIV, syphilis, and toxoplasmosis was found in 6.00%. No association was found between coinfection and age, parity, and residence area. The rate of syphilis infection was very high in pregnant women living in rural areas (ORcrude = 4.37; 95% CI = 2,11, 9.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed a high prevalence of toxoplasmosis and syphilis in pregnant women in the Central African Republic, regardless of their HIV infection status. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common in pregnant women living in rural areas. It may be appropriate to include routine serological screening tests to determine of toxoplasmosis, syphilis and HIV in pregnant women in this country.
authors: Unité d'immunologie, de biologie moléculaire et de biochimie, laboratoire Institut national de biologie et santé publique, ministère de la Santé publique et de la Population, 1426 Bangui, République centrafricaine.
authors: E P
authors: EP
authors: Gamba
authors: Unité d'immunologie, de biologie moléculaire et de biochimie, laboratoire Institut national de biologie et santé publique, ministère de la Santé publique et de la Population, 1426 Bangui, République centrafricaine.
authors: W S
authors: WS
authors: Nambei
authors: Unité d'immunologie, de biologie moléculaire et de biochimie, laboratoire Institut national de biologie et santé publique, ministère de la Santé publique et de la Population, 1426 Bangui, République centrafricaine.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Kamandji
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002488:Central African Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Central African Republic; HIV; pregnant women; syphilis; toxoplasmosis