Aflatoxin B and fumonisin B exposure and adverse birth outcomes in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women from Harare, Zimbabwe.

Aflatoxin B (AFB1) and fumonisin B (FB1) are toxic secondary products of fungi that frequently contaminate staple crops in resource-limited settings. Antenatal AFB1 and FB1 exposure may cause adverse birth outcomes. We conducted a retrospective substudy nested in a case-control cohort of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women ≥20 weeks gestation from Harare, Zimbabwe.

Phenotypic characterization of NK cells in 5-year-old children exposed to maternal HIV and antiretroviral therapy in early-life.

Background: HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) children are at increased risk of morbidity during the first years of life. Although the immune responses of HEU infants in early-life are relatively well described, studies of natural killer (NK) cells in older HEU children are lacking. NK cell subsets were analysed in HEU children and compared to those in HIV unexposed uninfected (HUU) children aged ~ five years.

Association between anaemia and aflatoxin B and fumonisin B exposure in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected pregnant women from Harare, Zimbabwe.

Aflatoxin B (AFB) and fumonisin B (FB) are poisons that contaminate poorly stored staple foods in resource-limited settings. Antenatal AFB and FB exposure may cause anaemia. We aimed to determine the associations of urinary aflatoxin M (AFM) and FB, biomarkers of AFB and FB exposure, respectively, with erythrocyte parameters and anaemia.

Biomonitoring and determinants of mycotoxin exposures from pregnancy until post-lactation in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women from Harare, Zimbabwe.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) heavily affects women from resource-limited settings who are vulnerable to potentially harmful mycotoxins including aflatoxin B (AFB1), fumonisin B (FB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA). We aimed to conduct biomonitoring and ascertain the determinants of maternal mycotoxin exposure in pregnancy, lactation and post-lactation periods. We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women from Harare, Zimbabwe.

Antenatal hepatitis B virus sero-prevalence, risk factors, pregnancy outcomes and vertical transmission rate within 24 months after birth in a high HIV prevalence setting.

Background: Despite the availability of an effective vaccine, chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections remain a major cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. HBV burden in pregnancy, risk factors and the timing of mother to child transmission remain poorly described especially during this era of lifelong use of Tenofovir/Lamivudine/Efavirenz as firstline for HIV treatment. We aimed to determine the burden of HBV in pregnancy and infants receiving their first dose of HBV vaccine 6 weeks after birth in a high HIV-prevalence setting.