Congenital toxoplasmosis in a reference center of Paraná, Southern Brazil

Abstract

This study describes the characteristics of 31 children with congenital toxoplasmosis children admitted to the University Hospital of Londrina, Southern Brazil, from 2000 to 2010. In total, 23 (85.2%) of the mothers received prenatal care but only four (13.0%) were treated for toxoplasmosis. Birth weight was <2500g in 37.9% of the infants. During the first month of life, physical examination was normal in 34.5%, and for those with clinical signs and symptoms, the main manifestations were hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly (62.1%), jaundice (13.8%), and microcephaly (6.9%). During ophthalmic examination, 74.2% of the children exhibited injuries, 58.1% chorioretinitis, 32.3% strabismus, 19.4% microphthalmia, and 16.2% vitreitis. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM antibodies were detected in 48.3% of the children. Imaging brain evaluation was normal in 44.8%; brain calcifications, hydrocephaly, or both conditions were observed in 27.6%, 10.3%, and 17.2%, respectively, of the patients. Patients with cerebrospinal fluid protein≥200mg/dL presented more brain calcifications (p=0.0325). Other sequelae were visual impairment (55.2% of the cases), developmental delay (31.0%), motor deficit (13.8%), convulsion (27.5%), and attention deficit (10.3%). All patients were treated with sulfadiazine, pyrimethamine, and folinic acid, and 55.2% of them exhibited adverse effects. The results demonstrate the significance of the early diagnosis and treatment of toxoplasmosis during pregnancy to reduce congenital toxoplasmosis and its consequences.

Isolation and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from placental tissues of pregnant women who received toxoplasmosis treatment during an outbreak in southern Brazil

“…In addition, it should be considered that the evaluated patients were diagnosed in the last gestational trimester and started receiving treatment after 30 weeks of gestation. This fact reaffirms the importance of diagnosis pregnant women through serology is essential for fast and efficient treatment to reduce cases of congenital toxoplasmosis [29,30].…”

Electrochemiluminesence Epidemiologic Detection of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Pregnant Women With Direct and Indirect Diagnostic Techniques (ELISA Avidity Plus Biochemical Assay)

“…In acute congenital toxoplasmosis, the evaluation of Valid N (listwise) 980 A D C A IgG AVIDITY was first step and then the measurement of biochemical factors such as serum transaminases, serum bilirubin and serum ferritin was important. [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] In Iran there are no study about biochemical factors in discrimination of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis but in this study, we found many differences in biochemical factors of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis.…”

Toxoplasmosis cerebral congénita e infección por el virus del Zika y del chikunguña: reporte de un caso

“…En la toxoplasmosis fetal grave, las imágenes diagnósticas del cráneo se suelen evidenciar ventriculomegalia asociada con múltiples nódulos ecodensos, destrucción del cerebro, disgenesia del cuerpo calloso (38-40) y calcificaciones nodulares (41,42).…”