Genotype of 86 Toxoplasma gondii isolates associated with human congenital toxoplasmosis, and correlation with clinical findings

J Infect Dis. 2002 Sep 1;186(5):684-9. doi: 10.1086/342663. Epub 2002 Aug 5.

Abstract

To study the influence of Toxoplasma gondii genotypes on the severity of human congenital toxoplasmosis (asymptomatic, benign, or severe infection or newborn or fetal death), 8 microsatellite markers were used to analyze 86 T. gondii isolates collected from patients with congenital toxoplasmosis. Seventy-four different genotypes were detected, some identical genotypes originating probably from the same source of contamination. The 3 less polymorphic microsatellite markers associated with 6 isoenzymatic markers allowed a classification of isolates into the 3 classical types and detected atypical genotypes. Whatever the clinical findings, type II isolates were largely predominant (84.88% in the whole collection and 96.49% in 57 consecutive cases). Type I and atypical isolates were not found in asymptomatic or benign congenital toxoplasmosis. However, in 4 cases in which children were not infected despite isolation of T. gondii from placenta, only type I isolates were found.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cluster Analysis
  • DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Female
  • Fetal Death / genetics
  • Fetal Death / microbiology
  • Fetal Death / pathology
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Microsatellite Repeats / genetics
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Pregnancy
  • Toxoplasma / classification
  • Toxoplasma / genetics*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / microbiology*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / pathology

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial