ISSN 2756-3391
African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 13 (8), pp. 001-005, August, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Evaluation of the test relab essentials toxoplasma latex® in the biological diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in Abidjan (Cote D’Ivoire)
Gonat Serge Pacôme DOU1,2, Mariétou TAMBOURA1,2, N’da Angbeletchi David AKA1, Guy Landry ADJO2, Olivia NASSOUE2, Hyacinthe Tokpa DAHIO2, Arthur ANZARA1, Kouadio BROU1, Séraphin KOUADIO1 and Koffi Daho ADOUBRYN3
1University Félix Houphouët-Boigny of Abidjan, 01 BPV 34 Abidjan, Cocody.
2Cocody University Hospital, BPV 13 Abidjan.
3University Alassane Ouattara of Bouaké, BPV 18 Bouaké.
Abstract
Received 28 March, 2025; Revised 28 July, 2025 ; Accepted 28 July, 2025 and Published 21 August, 2025
Screening for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy is vital for child protection. However, the associated tests are still expensive and borne by households in Côte d'Ivoire. It is therefore necessary to provide the healthcare system with reliable and accessible tests. The aim of this study was to evaluate the test Relab Essentials Toxoplasma agglutination Latexâ in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in Abidjan. From 4 october to 4 november 2023, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the parasitology-mycology laboratory of the teaching hospital of Cocody. A serum bank of 369 non-pregnant girls aged between 5 and 18 years was examined. For each serum stored at -20°C, toxoplasma serology was carried out by agglutination using the Relab Essentials Toxoplasma Latexâ and by immunoenzymatic test, considered to be the reference method, using the Mini Vidasâ device, in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions. The diagnostic performance of this test was evaluated on the basis of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and the Youden index. The mean age of the 369 girls was 10.8 years (+/- 3.96), with a predominance of girls with secondary education. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis using the ELISA technique was 13.8%, compared with 5.9% for the agglutination test. The test Relab Essentials Toxoplasma Latexâ had a relatively low sensitivity of 33.3% and a good specificity of 98.4%. The positive and negative predictive values were 77.7% and 90.2% respectively. In addition, the Youden index, which reflects the accuracy of the test, was 0.32, indicating that the Relab test was not effective. The Relab Essentials Toxoplasma test Latexâ performed unsatisfactorily. It cannot be recommended for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in Côte d'Ivoire.
Keywords: Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis - Rapid test - Relab Essentials Toxoplasma Latexâ - Côte d’Ivoire.