Toxoplasmosis at the Institut Pasteur, Bangui, Central African Republic (1996-1998): Serological data.

A serological study of toxoplasmosis was conducted between 1996 and 1998 on 1953 patients of the Medical Analysis Laboratory of the institut Pasteur d e Bangui. The mean age of patients was 28 years. Among sera tested by ELISA , seropositivity to IgG antibodies was observed in 50.6%, and 2.6% sera wer e found positive for IgM antitoxoplasma antibodies (immuno-capture). The se roprevalence did not vary significantly according tosex or age. The results showed 40.8% sera had IgG antibodies titered 400 Ul/ml and more. The propo rtion of high level (> 400 Ul) IgG was more important in males than in fema les. High level IgG antibodies were statistically significant more frequent ly in the sera of females aged 10-29 years. Of the procreative women, 49.1% were at risk of contacting toxoplasmosis. The diagnosis of recently acquir ed infection, based on the coexistence of IgM antibodies and high level IgG antibodies, was noted in 1.6% among sera of procreative women. In the Cent ral African Republic, serologic survey during pregnancy is not systematic a nd HIV seroprevalence is high (15%). Risks of acute infections during pregn ancy and of opportunistic infections in HIV-infection patients are high. A control of toxoplasmosis is justifiable (screening during pregnancy sanitar y education) in CAR.