Toxoplasmosis transmitted to a newborn from the mother infected 20 years earlier

Am J Ophthalmol. 2003 Aug;136(2):370-1. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(03)00191-0.

Abstract

Purpose: To present a case of congenital toxoplasmosis in a newborn whose mother had a 20-year history of a chorioretinal macular scar and positive serology for toxoplasmosis.

Design/methods: Case report. SETTING/RESULTS: A 38-year-old woman who had been treated for ocular toxoplasmosis 20 years earlier delivered a newborn who presented with a focal necrotizing retinochoroiditis characteristic of toxoplasmosis, as well as positive immunoglobulin (Ig) G and M serology for toxoplasmosis. The workup was negative for other entities.

Conclusion: This case suggests that women with old retinal scars due to toxoplasmosis and long-standing IgG antibodies to toxoplasmosis are also at risk of transmitting this disease to the fetus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin M / analysis
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical*
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / drug therapy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / parasitology*
  • Pyrimethamine / therapeutic use
  • Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute / diagnosis
  • Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute / drug therapy
  • Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute / parasitology*
  • Sulfadiazine / therapeutic use
  • Toxoplasma / immunology
  • Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / diagnosis
  • Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / drug therapy
  • Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / transmission*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / diagnosis
  • Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / drug therapy
  • Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / transmission*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Sulfadiazine
  • Pyrimethamine