Journal of Infectious Diseases & Preventive Medicine
Open Access

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis and Pregnancy: Risk Factors and Serology among Indigenous People in Two Departments of the Republic of Congo

Iloki LH

Introduction: Toxoplasmosis is an anthropozoonosis caused by Toxoplasma Gondi. Its transmission by cats and the existence of risk factors may be responsible for embryofetopathies of varying severity in Aboriginal women.

Objective: To analyze the risk factors and serology of toxoplasmosis in native pregnant women in two departments of the Republic of Congo.

Patients and methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study conducted from January 1 to September 30, 2017 in 2 departments of the country, focusing on pregnant women divided into 2 groups 97 indigenous and 97 Bantu. The ELISA technique was used to study the sera of pregnant women. The variables studied were related to serology and risk factors. The statistical test was significant when p<0.05.

Results: TIZ decreased cellular ATP in a dose-dependent manner in MDCK cells and in MDCK cells infected with influenza A and B viruses. Maximum inhibition of ATP in influenza-infected or uninfected MDCK cells reached up to 45% after 6 and 24 hours of exposure to 100 μM TIZ. The decrease in cellular ATP did not affect cell viability and was reversible after eliminating TIZ from the culture. TIZ concentrations required to decrease cellular ATP levels were similar to those reported to inhibit replication of influenza A and B viruses.

Conclusion: The risk factors for toxoplasmosis are the same in native pregnant women as in Bantu pregnant women, despite the fact that the cat is more common in Bantu pregnant women.

Published Date: 2022-07-19; Received Date: 2022-06-17