MRC Centre of Epidemiology for Child Health

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How to find us


MRC Centre of Epidemiology for Child Health
UCL Institute of Child Health
30 Guilford Street
London, WC1N 1EH
Tel: +44 (0)20 7905 2362

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Research quick links

News

Measles Outbreak Highlights Importance of MMR Vaccine

Dr Helen Bedford was interviewed on the BBC news channel about the current measles outbreaks. More...

Published: Apr 26, 2013 2:30:00 PM

Response to 'HIV baby cure' headlines

Senior Lecturer at the Centre, Dr Pat Tookey, was interviewed on the BBC News Channel, and participated in a 3-way live radio discussion on Voice of Russia. More...

Published: Mar 21, 2013 1:02:43 PM

Researcher Starts MRC Fellowship

In January 2013 Anna Pearce commences an MRC Population Health Scientist fellowship. Her research will take a longitudinal and cross-national approach to gain a better understanding of why children from disadvantaged backgrounds experience poorer health than those from more advantaged backgrounds. Anna will spend the next three years researching this topic, including 12 months at the University of Adelaide. Findings will be used to inform UK and international policy for the reduction of child health inequalities. More...

Published: Jan 11, 2013 3:57:13 PM

Parents regaining confidence in MMR vaccine

The latest figures for uptake of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine show that 91% of two year old children in England have received the vaccine. This is the first time since 1998 that MMR vaccine rates have been higher than 90%. In 1998 a publication in the Lancet, which was widely interpreted as suggesting MMR vaccine was linked with autism and bowel disease, led to widespread media coverage and speculation about the safety of this vaccine. Many parents who were justifiably concerned, decided not to accept the vaccine for their children. Rates fell to a low of 78% overall but in many districts, particularly in inner London, rates were as low as 50%. We are continuing to see the results of this, with large outbreaks of measles once again in England. More...

Published: Nov 28, 2012 3:24:55 PM

Centre Director presents at international paediatrics conference

Centre Director, Catherine Law, gave the opening plenary lecture at the International Society of Social Paediatrics and Child Health’s conference in St Andrews on 6th September 2012. The theme for the conference was “evidence into practice and evidence into policy”. More...

Published: Sep 11, 2012 2:15:40 PM


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Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite. If a woman contracts toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, the infection may be passed to the fetus. Although this may not affect the child, it can sometimes result in deafness, blindness or cerebral palsy. The European Multicentre Study on Congenital Toxoplasmosis (EMSCOT), funded by the European Commission, was a cohort study based on over 1200 toxoplasma-infected pregnant women. The study involved 15 centres in 7 countries, in Europe and Brazil. 

EMSCOT

The study addressed questions about the risks of transmission and signs of damage in the child and how these risks are modified by prenatal treatment.

Principal investigator: Ruth Gilbert

More information: EMSCOT website

From the EMSCOT study:

  • Gilbert RE, Thalib L, Tan HK, Paul M, Wallon M, Petersen E; The European Multicentre Study on Congenital Toxoplasmosis (EMSCOT).  Screening for congenital toxoplasmosis: accuracy of immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin A tests after birth.  J Med Screen. 2007;14(1):8-13.
  • Thiebaut R, Leroy V, Alioum A, Binquet C, Poizat G, Salmi LR et al. Biases in observational studies of the effect of prenatal treatment for congenital toxoplasmosis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2006;124:3-9.
  • Salt A, Freeman K, Prusa A, Ferret N, Buffolano W, Malm G et al. Determinants of response to a parent questionnaire about development and behaviour in 3 year olds: European multicentre study of congenital toxoplasmosis. BMC Pediatr 2005;5:21.
  • Thalib L, Gras L, Romand S, Prusa A, Bessieres MH, Petersen E et al. Prediction of congenital toxoplasmosis by polymerase chain reaction analysis of amniotic fluid. BJOG 2005;112:567-74.
  • Freeman K, Oakley L, Pollak A, Buffolano W, Petersen E, Semprini AE et al. Association between congenital toxoplasmosis and preterm birth, low birthweight and small for gestational age birth. BJOG 2005;112:31-7.
  • Gras L, Wallon M, Pollak A, Cortina-Borja M, Evengard B, Hayde M et al. Association between prenatal treatment and clinical manifestations of congenital toxoplasmosis in infancy: a cohort study in 13 European centres. Acta Paediatr 2005;94:1721-31.
  • Freeman K, Salt A, Prusa A, Malm G, Ferret N, Buffolano W et al. Association between congenital toxoplasmosis and parent-reported developmental outcomes, concerns, and impairments, in 3 year old children. BMC Pediatr 2005;5:23.
  • Gras L, Gilbert RE, Wallon M, Peyron F, Cortina-Borja M. Duration of the IgM response in women acquiring Toxoplasma gondii during pregnancy: implications for clinical practice and cross-sectional incidence studies. Epidemiol Infect 2004;132:541-8.
  • Gilbert R,.Gras L. Effect of timing and type of treatment on the risk of mother to child transmission of Toxoplasma gondii. BJOG 2003;110:112-20.
  • Gras L, Gilbert RE, Ades AE, Dunn DT. Effect of prenatal treatment on the risk of intracranial and ocular lesions in children with congenital toxoplasmosis. Int J Epidemiol 2001;30:1309-13.
  • Gilbert RE, Gras L, Wallon M, Peyron F, Ades AE, Dunn DT. Effect of prenatal treatment on mother to child transmission of Toxoplasma gondii: retrospective cohort study of 554 mother-child pairs in Lyon, France. Int J Epidemiol 2001;30:1303-8.
  • Gilbert R, Dunn D, Wallon M, Hayde M, Prusa A, Lebech M et al. Ecological comparison of the risks of mother-to-child transmission and clinical manifestations of congenital toxoplasmosis according to prenatal treatment protocol. Epidemiol Infect  2001;127:113-20.
  • Romand S, Wallon M, Franck J, Thulliez P, Peyron F, Dumon H. Prenatal diagnosis using polymerase chain reaction on amniotic fluid for congenital toxoplasmosis. Obstet Gynecol 2001;97(2):296-300

From the SYROCOT study and EUROTOXO initiative:

  • The SYROCOT (Systematic Review on Congenital Toxoplasmosis) Study Group. Writing committee: R Thiebaut, S Leproust, G Chene, R Gilbert. Individual patient data meta-analysis of prenatal treatment effect for congenital toxoplasmosis. The Lancet 2007;369:115-122
  • Gollub E, Leroy V, Gilbert RE, Chêne G, Wallon M for the European Toxoprevention Study Group (EUROTOXO). Effectiveness of Health Education for Preventing Toxoplasma Infection in Pregnancy. European J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2008;136(2):137-145
  • Khoshnood B, De Vigan C, Goffinet F, Leroy V. Prenatal screening and diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis: a review of safety issues and psychological consequences for women who undergo screening. Prenat Diagn 2007 May;27(5):395-403.
  • The SYROCOT (Systematic Review on Congenital Toxoplasmosis) Study Group. Writing committee: R Thiebaut, S Leproust, G Chene, R Gilbert. Individual patient data meta-analysis of prenatal treatment effect for congenital toxoplasmosis. The Lancet 2007;369:115-122
  • Thiébaut R, Leroy V, Alioum A, Binquet C, Poizat G, Salmi R, Gras L, Gilbert R, Salamon R, Chêne G. Biases in observational studies of the effect of prenatal treatment for congenital toxoplasmosis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2006;124(1):3-9. Epub 2005 Sep 2.
  • Thiébaut R, Gilbert RE, Gras L, Chêne G. Timing and type of prenatal treatment for congenital toxoplasmosis (Protocol for a Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2003. Oxford: Update Software

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