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Background and Objectives: Human parvovirus B19 (B19V) has singular tropism to erythropoietic cells and causes a wide range of complications in some fetuses of infected pregnant women, especially those with hemoglobinopathies. This study aimed to determine association of hemoglobin electrophoretic patterns and other risk factors of B19V in pregnant women attending University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Abuja, Nigeria. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 200 pregnant women and screened for anti- B19V Immunoglobulin-M (IgM), Immunoglobulin-G (IgG) and hemoglobin phenotypic pattern using enzyme immunosorbent assay and Minicap Flex Piercing Electrophoresis, respectively. Structured questionnaires were used to collate sociodemographic variables and associated risks for B19V. Results: Of the 200 participants, 12 (6.0%) were positive for B19V IgM, 45 (22.5%) positive for IgG, 2 (1.0%) were positive for both antibody classes while 145 (72.5%) had no detectable B19V antibodies. Twenty-six (28.3%) of subjects with Hemoglobin AA (HbAA) electrophoretic pattern had B19V IgG, 9 (12.5%) in those with HbAS and 11 (30.6%) in those with HbSS electrophoretic pattern. There was significant association between prevalence of anti-B19V IgG and hemoglobin electrophoretic pattern of participants (p value = 0.037). However, no association between B19V IgM and hemoglobin electrophoretic pattern, age and parity of pregnant women (p value >0.05). Conclusion: Findings from this study revealed a high prevalence of B19V infection. Recent B19V infection was associated with hemoglobin electrophoretic profile of pregnant women. It is recommended to follow all pregnant women with anti-B19V IgM positive results and their fetuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy could induce miscarriage, congenital anomalies in foetuses and encephalitis in HIV-infected people. Hence, there is a need to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in HIV-infected pregnant women to inform clinicians about the significance of maternal toxoplasmosis in antenatal care., Aim: This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection, associated CD4+ T-cell profile and sociodemographic risk factors among pregnant women with or without HIV infection attending the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria., Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study involved blood samples collected from 160 HIV-infected and 160 HIV-seronegative pregnant women. These samples were analysed for anti-T. gondii (IgG and IgM) and CD4+ T-cell count using ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively. Sociodemographic variables of participants were collected using structured questionnaires., Results: The overall seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM was 28.8% and 3.8%, respectively. The seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM was 29.4% and 4.4%, respectively, among HIV-seropositive pregnant women and 28.1% and 3.1%, respectively, among HIV-seronegative women. There was no significant association between the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii-IgG and anti-T. gondii-IgM with age, gestational age, education level, parity or place of residence of HIV-infected pregnant women (P > 0.05). However, there was significant association between the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii-IgG (P = 0.03) and anti-T. gondii-IgM (P = 0.01) with education level. CD4+ T-cell count varied significantly between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected pregnant women (P = 0.035)., Conclusion: In this study, the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM did not differ in HIV-seropositive or HIV-seronegative pregnant women. However, women with primary T. gondii and HIV coinfection had lower CD4+ T-cell count than those with toxoplasmosis monoinfection., (© 2020 The College of Medicine and the Medical Association of Malawi.)