Building Programs to Eradicate Toxoplasmosis Part I: Introduction and Overview

Abstract

Purpose of Review Review building of programs to eliminate Toxoplasma infections. Recent Findings Morbidity and mortality from toxoplasmosis led to programs in USA, Panama, and Colombia to facilitate understanding, treatment, prevention, and regional resources, incorporating student work. Summary Studies foundational for building recent, regional approaches/programs are reviewed. Introduction provides an overview/review of programs in Panamá, the United States, and other countries. High prevalence/risk of exposure led to laws mandating testing in gestation, reporting, and development of broad-based teaching materials about Toxoplasma. These were tested for efficacy as learning tools for high-school students, pregnant women, medical students, physicians, scientists, public health officials and general public. Digitized, free, smart phone application effectively taught pregnant women about toxoplasmosis prevention. Perinatal infection care programs, identifying true regional risk factors, and point-of-care gestational screening facilitate prevention and care. When implemented fully across all demographics, such programs present opportunities to save lives, sight, and cognition with considerable spillover benefits for individuals and societies.

Novel paradigm enables accurate monthly gestational screening to prevent congenital toxoplasmosis and more

“…There also are a variety of other clinical and epidemiologic circumstances where knowing T . gondii serologic antibody status can be of considerable clinical and public health utility and benefit [ 1 , 2 , 6 , 7 , 27 , 32 – 9 , 46 – 50 ]. Very high-quality, low-cost screening tests such as the ICT can improve infectious diseases care in gestation, eliminating perinatal infections.…”

“…These benefits are amplified in subpopulation demographics in the USA [ 28 ] and regions of the world where the burden of disease is even higher. Examples of this occur in the Lancaster Amish population in the USA [ 8 , 12 , 32 , 46 ], parts of Florida, are likely in other US subpopulations [ 28 ], and occur in Central [ 36 ] and South America [ 47 ], and parts of Africa [ 29 ].…”

“…We have created a suite of educational materials for various audiences (high schoolers, when considering pregnancy, during pregnancy, medical students, residents, fellows, practicing physicians, in text book chapters) [ 6 , 7 ]. Educational materials have improved knowledge in all those settings [ 32 – 5 ]. Concerning educational materials, families of affected children (some of whom are now adults) want to introduce information at multiple levels.…”

“…Providers were given the same educational pamphlet that their patients also received. All had the opportunity to ask questions of RMc and learned about various related educational resources [ 1 – 3 , 6 , 7 , 32 – 35 , 38 , 46 ].…”

From TgO/GABA-AT, GABA, and T-263 Mutant to Conception of Toxoplasma

“… 6 , 7 , 8 Comprising a public health threat, toxoplasmosis results in a wide range of serious health problems, including loss of sight and significant neurological disease in congenital infection and severe meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised persons. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 Current therapeutics for this parasitic infection have some limitations, including toxicity, hypersensitivity reactions, and an inability to eliminate the latent bradyzoite stage of the parasite. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 For these reasons, new therapeutic approaches and the development of safe and effective vaccines are needed.…”