One in three babies born to HIV-positive mothers at risk of toxoplasmosis, KNUST study reveals

A new study from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has found that nearly one in three babies born to HIV-positive mothers in Ghana contract toxoplasmosis. This parasitic disease can cause severe health complications if untreated.

The research was conducted at KNUST’s University Hospital. It revealed that infants born to HIV-positive mothers are at a higher risk of Toxoplasma gondii infection. This risk is much greater than for those born to HIV-negative mothers.

Toxoplasmosis can be transmitted during pregnancy. It may lead to vision loss, brain damage, and developmental delays in children. The risk is especially high for women with weakened immune systems, such as those living with HIV.

Key findings showed that over half of the HIV-positive pregnant women had an acute T. gondii infection. More than half of these cases resulted in transmission to their babies. In contrast, recent infections were rare among HIV-negative women, but transmission still occurred in half of those cases.

Dr. Bhavana Singh, the lead researcher from KNUST’s Department of Clinical Microbiology, noted significant risk factors for infection among HIV-positive women. These include older age and unemployment.

Genetic analysis confirmed that the toxoplasmosis strain circulating in Ghana matches a common global variant found in Europe and North America.

Not all infected newborns showed immediate symptoms. The research team emphasized the need for long-term monitoring up to 10 years since complications can emerge later in childhood.

The study was published in the Journal of Science and Technology (JUST). It highlights the urgent need for better prenatal screening for high-risk groups and increased public health education about preventing toxoplasmosis.

Additional authors include Dr. Linda Batsa Debrah, Dr. Georgina Isabella Djameh, and Prof. Alexander Yaw Debrah.