Ocular Toxoplasmosis in the United States: Recent and Remote Infections

Abstract

We tested all samples from patients with ocular toxoplasmosis sent to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation Toxoplasma Reference Laboratory from June 2004 through August 2010 for serologic evidence of recent Toxoplasma gondii infection. Of 205 patients aged 10-96 years, 11.7% had recent infection. Many people develop ocular disease soon after T. gondii infection.

Significance of a Positive Toxoplasma Immunoglobulin M Test Result in the United States

“…The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute. The methods for serological testing at PAMF-TSL have been described elsewhere (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). In brief, all referred sera were tested initially with the SabinFeldman dye test (IgG) and immunocapture IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).…”

Ocular Toxoplasmosis: an Update

“…An estimated 30% of the world population harbour anti-Toxoplasma antibodies, with a two-fold higher prevalence in South America than in either the USA or Europe. In the latter countries, the prevalence of the disease declined by 50 % between the observation periods from 1988 to 1994 and 2009 to 2010 [3]. Over and above clinically-confirmed cases of infection, the prevalence of OT has been estimated to be 2%.…”

“…Ocular Toxoplasmosis (OT) is the main cause of infectious posterior uveitis in most geographical regions of the world (l " Table 1) [1,2]. Although the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in the USA and Europe is on the decline, infection with Toxoplasma gondii is still a health hazard of economic dimensions [3,4]. An estimated 30% of the world population harbour anti-Toxoplasma antibodies, with a two-fold higher prevalence in South America than in either the USA or Europe.…”

Schizophrenia and Infections: The Eyes Have It

“…In the United States, approximately 21 000 individuals develop toxoplasmosis-associated ocular lesions each year. 50 Geographic differences of T. gondii are marked; ie, in the United States only about 2% of T. gondii-infected individuals develop the ocular form, whereas in parts of Brazil, where other strains prevail, as many as 20% will develop the ocular form. 50 These differences may be related to differences in strains or other unidentified genetic or environmental factors.…”

“…50 Geographic differences of T. gondii are marked; ie, in the United States only about 2% of T. gondii-infected individuals develop the ocular form, whereas in parts of Brazil, where other strains prevail, as many as 20% will develop the ocular form. 50 These differences may be related to differences in strains or other unidentified genetic or environmental factors. 51 In the eye, the most common form of toxoplasmosis is retinochoroiditis in which the retina and choroid are involved, usually leaving one or more retinal scars that can be visualized by careful funduscopic exam.…”