Abstract
Background The sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine combination is a product used in the intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) of malaria in pregnant women in our country. To date, there is very little data on the teratogenic effect of this product. This study proposed to evaluate the teratogenic effect of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine on chicken embryos. Methods The teratogenic effect of the product was evaluated on chicken embryos at a dose of 1.3 mg/g sulfadoxine and 0.06 mg/g pyrimethamine. The product was injected before the start of incubation and on days 12, 14, 16, and 18 of incubation. One batch received a double injection of the product on days 16 and 18 of incubation. The quality of the hatched chicks was evaluated by the Tona Score followed by the determination of hematological and biochemical parameters. Results From the aforementioned, it appears that the eggs treated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine significantly decreased the hatchability rate of the eggs. The chicks obtained were all of very good quality. Apart from a significant decrease in the weight of the chicks of the batch that received the injection twice and a significant increase in the weight of the yolk sac of the chicks of the batch that received the injection on day 16 compared to the control, no variation was obtained. A significant increase in the white blood cell count of the chicks compared to the control was reported in the chicks of the batch injected before incubation and on day 12, as well as a significant increase in the platelet count of the chicks of the batch injected twice. For biochemical parameters, no significant difference was reported in ALT and AST. Conclusion Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine decreased egg hatch and caused an increase in embryo and chick mortality as well as a loss in relative chick weight and an increase in relative yolk sac weight. More in-depth studies would be needed on sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine teratogenicity and the benefit/risk ratio of this drug during pregnancy.
Highlights
Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by the genus Plasmodium transmitted to humans by the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. is disease remains one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the world and more in Africa [1]
In the SPJ0 batch, there was a lot of early mortality embryos that died before day 7 of incubation with blackish deposits either at the bottom of the shell or above the allantois
In the SPJ0 batch, there were many early mortalities, embryos that died before the 7th day of incubation with blackish deposits either at the bottom of the shell or above the allantois. ese data could be explained by the fact that the injection of SP would have stopped embryonic development. us, these SP-induced mortalities are classified as early embryonic deaths. e rate of nonhatchability from SPJ0 to SPJ18 could be explained by the fact that the egg is an enclosed area where everything injected is metabolized and used
Summary
Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by the genus Plasmodium transmitted to humans by the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. is disease remains one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the world and more in Africa [1]. Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by the genus Plasmodium transmitted to humans by the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Is disease remains one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the world and more in Africa [1]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 229 million cases of malaria were reported with 409,000 deaths due to malaria in 2019 [2]. Certain population groups are at increased risk of contracting malaria and developing the severe form of the disease. Several epidemiological data show that malaria is an endemic disease responsible for a high number of deaths, especially among children in West Africa [2]. Togo is one of the countries most affected by malaria in West Africa. Maternal malaria is the most important risk factor for infant mortality [3]. Malaria in pregnancy is very harmful to the mother and the fetus and represents a public health concern
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