Modern ideas about toxoplasmosis

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan, intracellular parasite that infects up to a third of the World’s population. Infection occurs when food or water is consumed with oocysts secreted from cat feces, or by eating undercooked or raw meat containing cysts. Primary infection is usually subclinical, but some patients may have lymphadenopathy or eye disease such as chorioretinitis. An infection acquired during pregnancy can cause serious damage to the fetus. In immunocompromised patients, reactivation of latent disease can cause life-threatening encephalitis. The diagnosis of toxoplasmosis can be established by direct detection of the parasite or using serological methods. The most commonly used and probably most effective therapeutic treatment is a combination of pyrimethamine with sulfadiazine and folic acid. The review contains information on the management of patients with acute Toxoplasma infection, as well as pregnant women infected during pregnancy. The issues of fetal toxoplasmosis and neonatal toxoplasmosis, eye diseases associated with toxoplasmosis, and the course of toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised individuals are discussed. Contradictions concerning the effectiveness of primary and secondary prevention in pregnant women are considered.