Congenital Toxoplasmosis

Martin, S.

doi:10.1891/0730-0832.20.4.23

Cited by 60 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…In Saudi Arabia IgM was reported in 23.1 % of premature infants (Martin 2001). Long-term effects are only available from retrospective diagnosis from case reports following reporting to specialized units such as for vision (Luft and Remington 1992) and hearing problem (Montoya and Liesenfeld 2004).…”

Section: Congenital Toxoplasma Gondii and Premature Birthmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sero-epidemiology and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women in Arab and African countries

Alsammani

2014

J Parasit Dis

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The epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy is a major issue for public health. Primary infection in pregnant women can lead to serious sequelae. This review examined current sero-epidemiology and risks factor data for Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women in Arab and African countries. A systematic electronic search of published literature was conducted. Data were extracted from relevant studies. Seropositivity is high in both regions. African countries have higher seropositivity than Arab countries due to differences in risk factors. Data on T. gondii infection in pregnancy are scant in many countries, especially where there is lack of political stability. Identified risk factors included eating raw meat, proximity with cats, undercooked food, and increasing maternal age. Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy in Arab and African countries is an underestimated health problem. Further research is needed. This report is a foundation for strategies and policies for intervention needed to combat the consequences of congenital toxoplasmosis.

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Section: Congenital Toxoplasma Gondii and Premature Birthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the first trimester, the transmission rate is low but the infection will result in severe congenital toxoplasmosis. Late infection is characterized by high transmission but less fetal morbidity (Lopez et al 2000;Martin 2001;Dunn et al 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sero-epidemiology and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women in Arab and African countries

Alsammani

2014

J Parasit Dis

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“…Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan responsible for fetal damage when the infection is acquired in utero (24), heart transplant complications (37), and opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals (39). T. gondii, as a member of the phylum Apicomplexa, is related to other parasites such as Plasmodium spp.…”

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confidence: 99%

IMP Dehydrogenase from the Protozoan ParasiteToxoplasma gondii

Sullivan

Dixon

et al. 2005

Antimicrob Agents Chemother

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The opportunistic apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii damages fetuses in utero and threatens immunocompromised individuals. The toxicity associated with standard antitoxoplasmal therapies, which target the folate pathway, underscores the importance of examining alternative pharmacological strategies. Parasitic protozoa cannot synthesize purines de novo; consequently, targeting purine salvage enzymes is a plausible pharmacological strategy. Several enzymes critical to purine metabolism have been studied in T. gondii, but IMP dehydrogenase (IMPDH), which catalyzes the conversion of IMP to XMP, has yet to be characterized. Thus, we have cloned the gene encoding this enzyme in T. gondii. Northern blot analysis shows that two IMPDH transcripts are present in T. gondii tachyzoites. The larger transcript contains an open reading frame of 1,656 nucleotides whose deduced protein sequence consists of 551 amino acids (TgIMPDH). The shorter transcript is an alternative splice product that generates a 371-amino-acid protein lacking the active-site flap (TgIMPDH-S). When TgIMPDH is expressed as a recombinant protein fused to a FLAG tag, the fusion protein localizes to the parasite cytoplasm. Immunoprecipitation with anti-FLAG was employed to purify recombinant TgIMPDH, which converts IMP to XMP as expected. Mycophenolic acid is an uncompetitive inhibitor relative to NAD ؉ , with a intercept inhibition constant (K ii ) of 0.03 ؎ 0.004 M. Tiazofurin and its seleno analog were not inhibitory to the purified enzyme, but adenine dinucleotide analogs such as TAD and the nonhydrolyzable ␤-methylene derivatives of TAD or SAD were inhibitory, with K ii values 13-to 60-fold higher than that of mycophenolic acid.IMP dehydrogenase (IMPDH) converts IMP to XMP in the presence of NAD, a critical rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of guanine nucleotides. Increased IMPDH activity is associated with actively dividing cells; consequently, IMPDH has been exploited as a target for anticancer, antiviral, immunosuppressive, and antimicrobial drug therapies (9, 15). Significant differences in IMDPH enzyme kinetics and inhibitor sensitivities between human and microbial homologues suggest that IMPDH may be an exploitable target for antimicrobials (25,36,40,42). Purine metabolic enzymes hold particular promise as targets to combat intracellular parasites while minimizing side effects to host cells. Parasites are inherently more reliant on these enzymes to maintain growth and are incapable of synthesizing purine precursors de novo (34).Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan responsible for fetal damage when the infection is acquired in utero (24), heart transplant complications (37), and opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals (39). T. gondii, as a member of the phylum Apicomplexa, is related to other parasites such as Plasmodium spp. (malaria) and Cryptosporidium spp. (26). A wide variety of molecular genetic tools have been developed for T. gondii (27,28). In particular, the generation of reagents for rever...

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“…Although the chance of fetal infection is 40% after primary maternal infection, 80% to 90% of infected fetuses are asymptomatic at birth. 12 Symptoms may be present at the time after birth including several days or weeks. Patients exhibit hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, thrombocytopenia, and petechial or purpuric rash.…”

Section: Lenticulostriate Vasculopathymentioning

confidence: 99%

Congenital Brain Infections

Arbeláez¹,

Restrepo²,

Dávila³

et al. 2014

Topics in Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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Pediatric congenital intracranial infections are a group of different and important entities that constitute a small percentage of all pediatric infections. The causal factors and clinical presentations are different in children compared with adults. They require early recognition because delay diagnosis and initiation of treatment may have catastrophic consequences. Despite improvements in prenatal screening, vaccine safety, and antibiotics, infections of the central nervous system remain an important cause of neurological disabilities worldwide. This article reviews the most common congenital infections and their imaging findings.

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Congenital Toxoplasmosis

Cited by 60 publications

References 11 publications

Sero-epidemiology and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women in Arab and African countries

Sero-epidemiology and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women in Arab and African countries

IMP Dehydrogenase from the Protozoan ParasiteToxoplasma gondii

Congenital Brain Infections

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