PhD defence
Endemic parasitic infections during pregnancy and their impact on clinical and immunological outcomes in Gabon
- Y.J. Honkpehedji
- Date
- Tuesday 3 March 2026
- Time
- Location
-
Academy Building
Rapenburg 73
2311 GJ Leiden
Supervisor(s)
- Prof.dr. M. Yazdanbaksh
- Prof.dr. C. H. Hokke
- Prof.dr. A. A. Adegnika
Summary
Parasitic infections such as malaria and schistosomiasis remain common among pregnant women in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. These infections represent a major public health concern, as they can negatively affect maternal health, pregnancy outcomes, and the development of the unborn child. However, their effects on the immune system of newborns and early-life health are still not fully understood.
This thesis, conducted in Gabon, investigates the clinical and immunological consequences of parasitic infections during pregnancy. The findings show that infections with multiple parasites are frequent and are associated with adverse birth outcomes, particularly low birth weight. The work also demonstrates that commonly used diagnostic methods often miss low-intensity infections in pregnant women, while newer, highly sensitive urine-based tests substantially improve detection.
In addition, the results provide strong evidence that treatment of schistosomiasis with praziquantel during pregnancy is safe and beneficial for maternal health. Beyond clinical outcomes, this thesis shows that maternal parasitic infections can influence immune development in newborns, leading to distinct immune profiles at birth depending on the type of infection.
Overall, this research highlights the importance of integrating improved diagnostic tools, effective treatment, and immunological monitoring into routine antenatal care. Such approaches are essential to reduce the burden of parasitic infections and to improve maternal and child health in endemic settings.
PhD dissertations
Approximately one week after the defence, PhD dissertations by Leiden PhD students are available digitally through the Leiden Repository, that offers free access to these PhD dissertations. Please note that in some cases a dissertation may be under embargo temporarily and access to its full-text version will only be granted later.
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