Congenital toxoplasmosis and pregnancy malaria detection post-partum: Effective diagnosis and its implication for efficient management of congenital infection.
Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) and pregnancy malaria (PM) have been individually reported to cause severe negative outcomes in pregnancies but the diagnostic method is still debatable. This study sought to estimate the prevalence of PM and CT single and co-infections in pregnant women by using various specimens including plasma and placental tissues. Genomic DNA extracted from the placenta, cord blood or blood of mothers was tested by PCR. Conventional method of immunodiagnosis was done for CT. We tested 79 pregnant women aged 18-42 years (mean: 28±1.06). Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum infection determined by PCR on mother's peripheral blood specimen was 6.3% whiles 57.3% was recorded for placental tissues (p<0.01). PCR testing for placental tissues showed 29.2% positive for Toxoplasma gondii, whiles 76.0% of mothers had serum IgG against T. gondii. It should be noted that 6.3% of the placental tissues showed PCR positive for SAG 3, a marker of active infection in T. gondii. Although there were no enhanced foetal disorders at birth in our study, there is a possibility of active transmission of T. gondii from mothers to foetuses even in immune mothers. Our study suggests that foetuses were exposed to P. falciparum and T. gondii in utero, and placenta is a better specimen for PCR in detecting such episodes. In cases of PCR-positive samples, clinical follow-up after birth may be important.
Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG581 Legon, Accra, Ghana; Section of Environmental Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8519, Japan.
Emmanuel Awusah
EA
Blay
Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG581 Legon, Accra, Ghana.
Anita
A
Ghansah
Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG581 Legon, Accra, Ghana.
Joseph
J
Otchere
Department of Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
Roberta
R
Koku
Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG581 Legon, Accra, Ghana.
Kofi Dadzie
KD
Kwofie
Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
Langbong
L
Bimi
Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG581 Legon, Accra, Ghana; Section of Environmental Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8519, Japan.
Suzuki
S
Takashi
Section of Environmental Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8519, Japan.
Nobuo
N
Ohta
Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG581 Legon, Accra, Ghana. Electronic address: iayi@noguchi.ug.edu.gh.
Irene
I
Ayi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D060085:Coinfection; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D010920:Placenta / Q000469:parasitology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D055815:Young Adult
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
Congenital toxoplasmosis; Placenta; Plasmodium falciparum; Pregnancy malaria; Toxoplasma gondii