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Indication of Risk of Mother-to-Child Toxoplasma gondii Transmission in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.
- Source :
-
Maternal & Child Health Journal . Dec2016, Vol. 20 Issue 12, p2581-2588. 8p. 4 Charts, 1 Graph. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Objectives Congenital infection with Toxoplasma gondii is known to result in neurological and brain disorders including ophthalmic disorders later in life. Research in Ghana revealed high sero-prevalence among pregnant women and eye patients. This study determines the risk of congenital transmission of T. gondii infection in Accra, Ghana. Methods One hundred consented pregnant women aged 18-45 years (mean 29.85 ± 5.76) participated. Venous blood and tissue samples were taken from the maternal side of each placenta after delivery. Cord blood samples were also taken after they were separated from the infants. Finger-prick blood was taken from infants of participating women at 2 or 6 weeks post-natal. ELISA was used to detect T. gondii antibodies in all blood samples while Nested-PCR was used to detect T. gondii DNA from placental tissues. Data was analysed using SPSS v. 16. Results Overall, 37.6 % of maternal blood, 39.5 % of umbilical cord blood, and 57.5 % of post-natal infant blood were positive for anti- T. gondii IgG. No anti- T. gondii IgM was detected in any of those samples. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in 39.8 % of placental tissue samples. Strong association was observed in the occurrence of placental T. gondii DNA and anti- T. gondii IgG positive women (ø = 0.810, p < 0.00001) as well as high Relative risk shown in the likelihood of foetal exposure to infection in latently-infected women (RR 10.39; CI 4.47-24.17; p < 0.00001). Conclusions for Practice The presence of anti- T. gondii IgG antibodies only, and T. gondii DNA in placental tissues indicate the women might have been infected early during the pregnancy, placing about 39.8 % of the babies at risk. These results can strongly influence policy to screen and treat pregnant women for T. gondii infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10927875
- Volume :
- 20
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Maternal & Child Health Journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 119755561
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-2084-z