Comorbidity of Transplacental Congenital Pathogen Infection among Mothers and Neonates in Kogi State, North Central, Nigeria
Transplacental congenital pathogen infections, commonly grouped under the TORCH complex (Toxoplasma gondii, Others such as Treponema pallidum, Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes simplex virus), remain major contributors to adverse pregnancy outcomes and neonatal morbidity in low- and middle-income countries. These infections can cross the placenta during pregnancy and result in miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, congenital anomalies, and neonatal death. In Nigeria, limited epidemiological data exist regarding the burden and co-occurrence of these infections among mothers and their newborns, particularly in North-Central states such as Kogi State. This research investigated the comorbidity of transplacental congenital pathogen infections, maternal and neonatal risk factors, and the implications for maternal and child health in Kogi State. Maternal factors such as poor antenatal care attendance, low immunization coverage, malnutrition, coinfections, poverty, and inadequate laboratory screening contribute significantly to the transmission. Neonatal consequences include congenital cytomegalovirus infection, congenital syphilis, congenital toxoplasmosis, and congenital rubella infection. The coexistence of multiple pathogens in the same mother or neonate may worsen clinical outcomes through placental inflammation, immune dysregulation, and micronutrient competition. Therefore, strengthening antenatal screening, vaccination, public health education, and laboratory diagnostic capacity is critical for reducing the burden of congenital infections in Kogi State and Nigeria as a whole.
Keywords: Transplacental congenital infections; TORCH pathogens; maternal risk factors; neonatal outcomes; pathogen comorbidity; antenatal screening.
