Postnatal acquired toxoplasmosis patients in an infectious diseases reference center

Abstract

Infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis, is one of the most frequent zoonoses in the world; it normally affects both genders equally. Humans are one of several possible intermediate hosts, and the disease is oligosymptomatic in most cases. Vertical transmission is an important cause of fetal malformation and sequels in newborns. Approximately 10% of postnatal cases present multiple manifestations, ranging from low fever and mild lymphadenopathy to severe encephalitis. In moderate cases, lesions such as retinochoroiditis may emerge during acute infection or even years later. We analyzed 313 cases of toxoplasmosis from 1992 to 2004, including 261 acute cases. Most patients were women (68.1%), and 39% of these were pregnant. Among acute infection cases, 64.8% presented symptomatic disease; the most frequent manifestations were lymphadenomegaly (59.8%), fever (27.2%), headache (10.7%), asthenia (10%), weight loss (8.4%), myalgia (8%), retinochoroiditis (3.4%) and hepatosplenomegaly (1.5%). Although ocular lesions by T. gondii are well documented as a possible consequence of postnatal infection, two patients developed retinochoroiditis only two years after primary infection. This demonstrates the need for toxoplasmosis case surveillance, even long after acute manifestations.

Juvenile polyarteritis nodosa associated with toxoplasmosis presenting as Kawasaki disease

“…7 In pediatric patients, however, the relationship between PAN and infection is not clear. 8 While the present patient was being investigated for prolonged fever, high antibody titers were observed for Toxoplasma gondii infection, and also the Sabin Feldman test supported the diagnosis. This patient's toxoplasmosis occurred at the onset of PAN symptoms (fever, myalgia, rash).…”

“…With regard to acute toxoplasmosis infection, myalgia can also be seen in up to 8% of patients but the present patient's myalgia seems unlikely to be explained by only Toxoplasma infection because he had other symptoms. 8 RCA RCA Fig. 1 (a)…”

Seroepidemiology of infection with Toxoplasma gondii in migrant agricultural workers living in poverty in Durango, Mexico

“…Nevertheless, interpretation of the increased IgM seroprevalence should be taken with care since tests for detection of IgM antibodies may have a high rate of false positive results caused by limitations in test specificity or persistence of IgM antibodies [19]. Some known clinical features of toxoplasmosis including visual impairment and headaches [2,20-22] were observed in some migrant workers. In fact, frequent headaches showed a borderline ( P  = 0.05) association with T. gondii seropositivity.…”

Epidemiology of Ocular Toxoplasmosis

“…[68][69][70] A high prevalence, 80%, of ocular toxoplasmosis has been found in newborns with congenital toxoplasmosis in Brazil, 71 and a study from Rio de Janeiro found that 3% of acutely infected adults had chorioretinitis within 2 years of infection. 72 A higher prevalence of congenital toxoplasmosis has been found in Brazil compared to Europe followed by a higher rate of chorioretinitis in newborns and a higher rate of ocular disease in Brazilian infants after birth compared to European infants. 73 Severe, disseminated T. gondii infection with multiorgan involvement, including eye symptoms.…”