Prenatal diagnosis and prevention of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Northern Vietnam: study protocol

BMC Infectious Diseases

Study Protocol

Elizaveta Padalko¹  Brecht Devleesschauwer²  Pierre Dorny³  G. Suzanne A. Smit⁴  Niko Speybroeck⁵  Thi Lam Binh Vu⁶  Trung Dung Do⁶  Ellen Roets⁷ 

[1] Department of Clinical Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium;School of Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium;Department of Public Health and Surveillance, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium;Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium;Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), Nationalestraat 155, B-2000, Antwerp, Belgium;Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium;Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), Nationalestraat 155, B-2000, Antwerp, Belgium;Institute of Health and Society (IRSS), Université catholique de Louvain, Clos Chapelle-aux-champs 30, 1200 Woluwe-Saint Lambert, Brussels, Belgium;Institute of Health and Society (IRSS), Université catholique de Louvain, Clos Chapelle-aux-champs 30, 1200 Woluwe-Saint Lambert, Brussels, Belgium;Parasitology Department of the National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology (NIMPE), 245 Luong The Vinh, Nam Tu Liem, Ha Noi, Viet Nam;Women’s Clinic, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium;

关键词: Congenital toxoplasmosis;    Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy;    Prenatal diagnostics;    Serology;    Prevention;    Vietnam;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12879-017-2446-1

 received in 2016-11-27, accepted in 2017-05-07,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIn Vietnam, no systematic prenatal toxoplasmosis screening is in place, and only few studies have assessed the prevalence and importance of this zoonotic parasite infection. In addition, no studies have been conducted to assess the risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis. This study protocol was developed to determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Hanoi and Thai Binh, Northern Vietnam, and to evaluate the association with risk factors and congenital toxoplasmosis. The protocol was developed in a way that it could potentially evolve into a countrywide prenatal diagnosis and prevention program, with the main focus on primary prevention.MethodsThe collaborating gynaecologists will invite eligible pregnant women attending antenatal care for the first time to participate in the study. At first consult, information about toxoplasmosis and its prevention will be provided. All participants will be asked to fill in a questionnaire, which is designed to analyse socio-demographic and biologically plausible risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis, and blood samples will be collected to determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women. In case there is suspicion of a primary infection during pregnancy, the concerned women will be followed-up by the gynaecologists according to a predefined protocol. Every participant will be informed on her serological status, risk factors and prevention measures and is offered appropriate medical information and medical follow-up if required.DiscussionThe hypothesis is that congenital toxoplasmosis is an important but currently under-diagnosed public health problem in Vietnam. This study can strengthen sustainable control of toxoplasmosis in Vietnam, provide a protocol for prenatal diagnosis, boost overall awareness, improve the knowledge about toxoplasmosis prevention and can be essential for evidence-based health policy.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017