Authors

B Danuan¹;  ¹ University of Jos, Nigeria

Discussion

Pregnancy is known to been associated with susceptibility to several diseases. The condition has been shown to increase severity of and even mortality in illnesses. T. gondii infection in pregnancy can result in miscarriage and serious neonatal complications. This study was designed to establish the relationship between infections of T. gondii, malaria, HIV, HBV and HCV, their co-infection and risk factors in a cohort of pregnant women. A total of 268 women aged between 15 to 49 years were recruited among pregnant women attending ANC at PSSH, Jos. T. gondii infection was determined using a commercial ELISA kit (Novo Tec Immunodiagnostica® Germany), plasmodium parasite was determined using RDT (Standard Diagnostics Inc®, Republic of Korea), HIV testing was performed using rapid kit (Immuno-tech TM®) and separate strips (Dia Spot® Rapid One-step Test Strip, United Kingdom) were used to detect HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies in the serum of participants. Out of the 268 pregnant women recruited for the study, 46 (17.1%) were positive for T. gondii, 49 (18.3%) for plasmodium parasite, 34 (12.7%) for HIV, 28 (10.4%) for HBV and 2 (0.75%) for HCV. T. gondii co-infection was recorded in all the other infections viz; malaria / T. gondi 7 (14.3%) (p>0.05), HIV/T.gondii 12 (35.3%) (p<0.05), HBV/T.gondii 6 (21.4%) (p>0.05) and HCV/T.gondii 1 (50%) (p>0.05). Other co-infections observed include Malaria/HIV 6 (2.2%) and Malaria/HBV 5 (1.9%). Triple infection between Malaria/HCV/HIV was observed in 1 (0.37%) and also HBV/HIV/T. gondii was 1 (0.37%). Risk factors to T. gondii infection show a significant relationship with age, ethnic group and blood transfusion history (p<0.05). The study show evidence of co-infection and triple infection with T. gondii, malaria, HIV, HBV and HCV infections and its consequences is better imagined. Concerted health education, prophylactic treatment for all HIV positive women and enforcing control measures against malaria and its vector, HBV and HCV especially among this vulnerable population is imperative. Key words: Morbidity, Toxoplasmosis, malaria, HIV, Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Co-infection and risk factors.