Original Research: Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence studies on humans and animals in Africa

Over the years, there have been scattered, sporadic (and usually small) studies on Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in the African continent, and this is unfortunate. The current human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic on the continent, increasing levels of other immunosuppressive infections (such as tuberculosis), poor sanitation and hygiene practices, inadequate veterinary services, and high levels of poverty, coupled with lack of proactive monitoring of at-risk populations and reporting of these investigations, is part of the challenge. The absence of public health schemes to manage the spread of this pathogen places African populations at risk of ongoing and possibly increasing incidence and prevalence, as well as a corresponding increase in mortality and morbidity due to toxoplasmosis. This may be the case in particular for toxoplasma encephalitis, which is currently a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in HIV patients who have progressed to full blown acquired immune deficiency syndrome, (AIDS) who and are not on highly active antiretroviral therapy in Africa.1