Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Toxoplasmosis in the Fetus and Newborn

  • Chapter
Neonatology

  • 330 Accesses

Abstract

In the developed world, human toxoplasmosis is considered a benign self-limiting disease mostly detectable by specific antibody Toxoplasma gondii-immunoglobulin (Tg-Ig) testing. Patent and sometimes devastating disease may be appreciated in immune-compromised hosts and congenitally infected infants [1]. Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) occurs almost exclusively when primary maternal infection occurs during gestation. As more than half of mothers giving birth to infected offspring could not recall an infection-related illness and no test reliably marks off infection time, there is pressure for screening. Alternative strategies include prenatal surveillance in Tg-Ig negative pregnant women and prophylaxis of fetal infection/damage in seroconverters, and newborn Tg-IgM testing on filter paper blood spots and sequelae prophylaxis in the Tg-IgM positive infant. Monthly or quarterly re-testing of unprotected pregnant women has been widely practised in the EU since the ’70s, whereas newborn testing has been included in the New England Neonatal Screening Program (NENSP) since 1986, and feasibility confirmed across the globe.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Montoya JG, Liesenfeld O (2004) Toxoplasmosis. Lancet 363: 1965–1976

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Gilbert R (2009) Treatment for congenital toxoplasmosis: finding out what works. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 104: 305–311

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Vaillant V, de Valk H, Baron E et al (2005) Foodborne infections in France. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2: 221–232

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bosch-Driessen LEH, Berendschot TTJM, Ongkosuwito JV, Rothova A (2002) Ocular toxoplasmosis. Clinical features and prognosis of 154 patients. Ophthalm 109: 869–878

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Flegr J, Klose J, Novotná M et al (2009) Increased incidence of traffic accidents in Toxoplasma-infected military drivers and protective effect RhD molecule revealed by a large-scale prospective cohort study. BMC Infect Dis 26; 9: 72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Zhu S (2009) Psychosis may be associated with toxoplasmosis. Med Hypotheses 73: 799–801

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Carme B, Demar M, Ajzenberg D, Dardé ML (2009) Severe acquired toxoplasmosis caused by wild cycle of Toxoplasma gondii, French Guiana. Emerg Infect Dis 15: 656–658

    Google Scholar 

  8. Saeij JPJ, Boyle JP, Coller S et al (2006) Polymorphic secreted kinases are key virulence factors in toxoplasmosis. Science 314: 1780–1783

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Jamieson SE, de Roubaix LA, Kuan Tan H et al (2008) COL2A1 and ABCA4 are epigenetically modified and associated with congenital toxoplasmosis. PLoS One 3: e2285

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kortbeek LM, Hofhuis A, Nijhuis CDM, Havelaar AH (2009) Congenital toxoplasmosis and DALYs in the Netherlands. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 104: 370–373

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Elbez-Rubinstein A, Ajzenberg D, Dardé ML et al (2009) Congenital toxoplasmosis and reinfection during pregnancy: case report, strain characterization, experimental model of reinfection, and review. J Infect Dis 199: 280–285

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Silveira C, Ferreira R, Muccioli C et al (2003) Toxoplasmosis transmitted to a newborn from the mother infected 20 years earlier. Am J Ophthalmol 136: 370–371

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Systematic Review on Congenital Toxoplasmosis Study Group (SYROCOT), Thiébaut R, Leproust S et al (2007) Effectiveness of prenatal treatment for congenital toxoplasmosis: a meta-analysis of individual patients’ data. Lancet 369: 115–122

    Google Scholar 

  14. McLeod R, Kieffer F, Sautter M et al (2009) Why prevent, diagnose and treat congenital toxoplasmosis? Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 104: 320–344

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Roberts A, Hedman K, Luyasu V et al (2001) Multicenter evaluation of strategies for serodiagnosis of primary infection with Toxoplasma gondii. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 20: 467–474

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Gilbert RE, Thalib L, Tan HK et al (2007) Screening for congenital toxoplasmosis: accuracy of immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin A tests after birth. J Med Screen 14: 8–13

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Bessières MH, Berrebi A, Cassaing S et al (2009) Diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis: prenatal and neonatal evaluation of methods used in Toulouse University Hospital and incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz104: 389–392

    Google Scholar 

  18. Rilling V, Dietz K, Krczal D et al (2003) Evaluation of a commercial IgG/IgM Western blot assay for early postnatal diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 22: 174–180

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kaiser K, Van Loon AM, Pelloux H et al (2007) Multicenter proficiency study for detection of Toxoplasma gondii in amniotic fluid by nucleic acid amplification methods. Clin Chim Acta 375: 99–103

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Blankenberg FG, Nyu-Nyu Loh, Bracci P et al (2000) Sonography, CT, and MR imaging: a prospective comparison of neonates with suspected intracranial ischemia and hemorrhage. AJNR 21: 213–218

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Hintz SR, Slovis T, Bulas D et al (2007). Interobserver reliability and accuracy of cranial ultrasound scanning interpretation in premature infants. J Pediatr 150: 592–596

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Knoblauch H, Tennstedt C, Brueck W et al (2003) Two brothers with findings resembling congenital intrauterine infection-like syndrome (pseudo-TORCH syndrome). Am J Med Genet 120A: 261–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. McLeod R, Boyer K, Karrison T et al (2006) Outcome of treatment for congenital toxoplasmosis, 1981-2004: the National Collaborative Chicago-Based, Congenital Toxoplasmosis Study. Clin Infect Dis 42: 1383–1394

    Google Scholar 

  24. Phan L, Kasza K, Jalbrzikowski J et al (2008) Longitudinal study of new eye lesions in children with toxoplasmosis who were not treated during the first year of life. Am J Ophthalmol 146: 375–384

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Phan L, Kasza K, Jalbrzikowski J et al (2008) Longitudinal study of new eye lesions in treated congenital toxoplasmosis. Ophthalmol 115: 553–559

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Freeman K, Salt A, Prusa A et al (2005) Association between congenital toxoplasmosis and parent-reported developmental outcomes, concerns, and impairments, in 3 year old children. BMC Pediatr 5: 23

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Freeman K, Tan HK, Prusa A et al (2008) Predictors of retinochoroiditis in children with congenital toxoplasmosis: European, prospective cohort study. Pediatrics 121: e1215–e1222

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Gilbert RE, Freeman K, Lago EG et al (2008) Ocular sequelae of congenital toxoplasmosis in Brazil compared with Europe. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2: e277

    Google Scholar 

  29. Stramba-Badiale M, Nador F, Porta N et al (1997) QT interval prolongation and risk of life-threatening arrhythmias during toxoplasmosis prophylaxis with spiramycin in neonates. Am Heart J 133: 108–111

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, Regional Register for Perinatal Infection and Special Unit for Perinatal Infection, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    Wilma Buffolano

Authors
  1. Wilma Buffolano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Neonatology, University of Siena General Hospital S. Maria alle Scotte Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy

    Giuseppe Buonocore (Professor of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Head of School of Pediatrics) (Professor of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Head of School of Pediatrics)

  2. University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Rodolfo Bracci (Formerly Professor of Pediatrics and Head of Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine) (Formerly Professor of Pediatrics and Head of Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine)

  3. University of Liverpool, UK

    Michael Weindling (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery) (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery)

  4. Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Translational Medicine, Liverpool, UK

    Michael Weindling (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery) (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery)

  5. Liverpool Women’s Hospital, Liverpool, UK

    Michael Weindling (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery) (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag Italia

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Buffolano, W. (2012). Toxoplasmosis in the Fetus and Newborn. In: Buonocore, G., Bracci, R., Weindling, M. (eds) Neonatology. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-1405-3_115

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-1405-3_115

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-1404-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-1405-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation