The Use of PCR as an Effective Means of Diagnosing Malaria and Toxoplasmosis in Pregnant Women in Cameroon

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the obligate intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, is an important zoonosis with medical and veterinary significance worldwide. The disease is primarily contracted by ingesting undercooked or raw meat containing viable tissue cysts, or by ingesting food or water contaminated with oocysts. Malaria, on the other hand, is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium, with the most serious and sometimes fatal type being caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Malaria stands as the most significant infectious disease in tropical and subtropical regions, continuing to pose a major global health challenge. A rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial for controlling these diseases, especially among vulnerable groups such as pregnant women. However, several diagnostic methods are hindered by shortcomings such as false negatives, false positives, and accuracy issues. Hence, this study assessed the utility of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in diagnosing these parasitic diseases in pregnant women at the Garoua Regional Hospital during antenatal care. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted, recruiting 105 participants who responded to a questionnaire and were diagnosed with malaria and toxoplasmosis using rapid diagnostic tests and microscopy. Dried blood spots were prepared from finger-prick blood samples of each participant for molecular analysis. Of the 105 participants, 70.87% originated from the North region and 21.36% from the Far North region. The women had an average age of 26 years, with the majority being married (98.06%) and housewives (79.05%), while 24.76% had never attended school. Among the 105 participants, 17/105 (16.19%) and 30/105 (28.57%) were diagnosed positive for malaria and toxoplasmosis using rapid diagnostic tests and microscopy, respectively. Meanwhile, 18/105 (17.14%) and 75/105 (71.5%) tested positive for malaria and toxoplasmosis, respectively, using PCR.