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Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia 2024To describe a 2019 acute toxoplasmosis outbreak in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, and to evaluate the laboratory serological profile for toxoplasmosis for three...
PURPOSE
To describe a 2019 acute toxoplasmosis outbreak in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, and to evaluate the laboratory serological profile for toxoplasmosis for three consecutive years. The ophthalmological manifestations of the patients involved in the outbreak were also studied.
METHODS
A cross-sectional descriptive study of a toxoplasmosis outbreak in São Paulo, Brazil, between February and May 2019. Epidemiological data were described, as were the observed ocular manifestations. As part of this study the number of patients with positive IgM toxoplasmosis serology was obtained from a large laboratory network (DASA) for three consecutive years, including the year of the outbreak (2018, 2019, 2020).
RESULTS
Eighty-three individuals were identified in the outbreak and two clusters were studied. The clinical picture of at least 77% of the patients, the epidemiological analysis, and the short incubation period (5-8 days) suggested contamination by oocysts. Serological laboratory data analysis revealed an increase of positive toxoplasmosis IgM in 2019 of 73% compared to the previous year. Ophthalmological examination revealed that at least 4.8% of the patients developed toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis, none of whom had been treated during the acute systemic disease.
CONCLUSION
Our findings indicate vegetable contamination as the possible source of this outbreak, a high prevalence of toxoplasmosis in São Paulo during the outbreak period, and a drop in the number of tests during the COVID-19 pandemic. Retinochoroiditis was observed in at least 4.8% of the cases. We confirm the need to implement effective means for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease. This may involve raising awareness among the population of the importance of vegetable hygiene, and improved quality control of food and water.
Topics: Humans; Brazil; Cross-Sectional Studies; Pandemics; Toxoplasmosis, Ocular; Disease Outbreaks; Acute Disease; Immunoglobulin M
PubMed: 38537044
DOI: 10.5935/0004-2749.2022-0374 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2024This study aimed to investigate the association between age, immune response, and clinical presentation of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT).
PURPOSE
This study aimed to investigate the association between age, immune response, and clinical presentation of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT).
DESIGN
This was a monocentric, retrospective, observational cohort study.
METHODS
A review of the medical records of patients with active OT at the Uveitis Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin, was conducted. Baseline parameters included age at presentation, visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), size and location of active lesions, inflammatory activity, antibody index (AI), and complications of intraocular inflammation. The data were presented as the mean ± standard deviation (SD). The level of significance was set at a -value of <0.05.
RESULTS
Between 1998 and 2019, 290 patients with active OT were diagnosed at our tertiary reference center. The mean age of the participants was 37.7 ± 17.1 years, 53.8% of them were female individuals, and 195 patients (70.9%) showed recurrent disease. Older age was associated with lower baseline visual acuity ( = 0.043), poor visual outcome ( = 0.019), increased inflammatory activity ( < 0.005), and larger retinal lesions ( < 0.005). Older patients presented a lower AI (<35 years: 45.1 ± 82.7, median: 12.1; ≥35 years: 18.6 ± 50.5, median: 5.8; = 0.046), confirmed by a decrease in AI with increasing age ( = 0.045; = 0.024). Finally, AI was correlated with lesion size (multiple linear regression analysis: = 0.043). Macular involvement (24.3% of patients) was positively correlated with complications (macular/peripapillary edema and retinal detachment, < 0.005) and poor visual outcome ( < 0.005) and was negatively correlated with inflammatory activity ( < 0.005).
CONCLUSION
We found a strong and clinically relevant impact of age on the clinical presentation and course of OT. While an unspecific inflammatory response increased with age, the specific, local humoral immune response declined. These findings are well in line with the concept of immunosenescence and inflammaging in uveitis.
PubMed: 38504919
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1311145 -
Turkiye Parazitolojii Dergisi Mar 2024Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) can have severe early and late sequelae in children. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical, treatment...
OBJECTIVE
Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) can have severe early and late sequelae in children. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical, treatment characteristics of patients diagnosed with congenital infection and to highlight the long-term complications of the patients.
METHODS
Patients with CT were included in this study who were followed between 2010 and 2022 in Cukurova University Medical Faculty Hospital. Demographic, clinical and treatment characteristics were searched retrospectively. In the diagnosis of maternal and CT, IgM, IgG, IgG avidity, polymerase chain reaction tests were used along with clinical and symptoms.
RESULTS
Eighteen children (two twins) with CT and their mothers (n=16) were included in the study. Median age was 1 month. Ten (55.5%) of the children were male. CT diagnosis was made during pregnancy in 7 mothers (resulting in 8 babies) and postnatally in 9 mothers (resulting in 10 babies). The mothers of 5 (31.1%) babies with CT received spiramycin treatment during pregnancy. Three (60%) of 5 pregnant women who received spiramycin were diagnosed in the first trimester, 4 (80%) of the babies did not have any sequale and only 1 (20%) had microphthalmia. Ocular involvement was the most common presentation of the disease occured in 10 patients (55.5%), hydrocephalus and intracranial calcification developed in five patients (27.7%). Hearing loss developed in 2 (11.1%) patients. During the follow-up period, seizures developed in 3 patients (16.6%), microcephaly in 2 patients (11.1%), and neurodevolopmental retardation in 7 patients (38.8%), two of the patients had severe mental retardation. One (5.5%) patient with hydrocephalus died at 36 months of age due to complications after ventriculoperitoneal shunt application.
CONCLUSION
In our study, we observed severe sequelae in vision, hearing, and neurodevelopmental aspects in children diagnosed with CT at birth and during follow-ups. Early diagnosis and treatment of infants, along with the detection of infection during pregnancy, are essential in preventing severe sequelae that may arise due to CT.
Topics: Pregnancy; Infant, Newborn; Infant; Child; Humans; Female; Male; Retrospective Studies; Spiramycin; Toxoplasmosis, Congenital; Hydrocephalus; Immunoglobulin G
PubMed: 38449361
DOI: 10.4274/tpd.galenos.2024.74046 -
International Journal of Retina and... Feb 2024Toxoplasma gondii causes ocular toxoplasmosis (OT), involving inflammation, scarring, and retinal complications. The OT complications were retinal detachment (RD), and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Toxoplasma gondii causes ocular toxoplasmosis (OT), involving inflammation, scarring, and retinal complications. The OT complications were retinal detachment (RD), and retinal breakage (RB). Surgical interventions like scleral buckling (SB) and vitrectomy are common. Limited understanding exists of the safety and efficacy of surgical management of RD/RB secondary to OT. Another complication is toxoplasmosis-related macular holes (tMH), with sparse evidence on surgical outcomes. This meta-analysis aims to clarify clinical characteristics, and surgical results, and enhance understanding of RD, RB, and MH secondary to OT.
METHODS
PubMed, Cochrane, Embase and Web of Science database were queried for retrospective studies, case series and case reports that provided information on RD, RB and MH associated with OT and reported the outcomes of: (1) Retinal reattachment of RD/RB and tMH closure; (2) Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improvement; and (3) Complications. Heterogeneity was examined with I statistics. A random-effects model was used for outcomes with high heterogeneity. Statistical analysis was performed using the software R (version 4.2.3, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria).
RESULTS
Fourteen final studies, comprising a total of 96 patients were analyzed, 81 with RD or RB and 15 with tMH. Overall, surgical management was associated with several advantages: a high rate of retinal reattachment of RD/RB of 97% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 92-100%; I = 0%), retinal reattachment of just RD of 96% (95% CI 89-100%; I = 30%) and tMH closure 97% (95% CI 87-100; I = 12%). There were significant differences in BCVA after surgeries in studies of RD/RB (MD 0.60; 95% CI 0.35-0.65; I = 20%) and MH (MD 0.67; 95% CI 0.50-0.84; I = 0%). The overall complication rate associated with surgical procedures in RD/RB secondary to OT was confirmed to be 25%.
CONCLUSIONS
The systematic review and meta-analysis showed that the treatment approaches currently in use are effective, with a remarkable rate of retinal reattachment of RD/RB, tMH closure, and substantial improvements in visual acuity. More randomized, long-term studies on disease and surgical factors can provide valuable insights into their impact on anatomical and visual outcomes.
PubMed: 38424638
DOI: 10.1186/s40942-024-00540-w -
Cureus Jan 2024Retinal vasculitis is common in ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) and typically occurs in the same quadrant as retinochoroiditis. This is a case of atypical ocular toxoplasmosis...
Retinal vasculitis is common in ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) and typically occurs in the same quadrant as retinochoroiditis. This is a case of atypical ocular toxoplasmosis with remote vasculitis distant from the retinochoroiditis lesion. Examination of the left fundus showed the classic posterior segment finding of "headlight in the fog" in the absence of a chorioretinal scar. Retinal vasculitis was noted in all four quadrants at the periphery far from the retinitis area. A presumptive diagnosis of acute panuveitis secondary to ocular toxoplasmosis was made despite the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Toxoplasmosis antibody being pending. The patient was treated empirically with oral sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim for eight weeks and received both oral and topical corticosteroids. His symptoms and ocular signs have significantly improved. This case report highlights an atypical remote localization of vasculitis with the classic appearance of retinochoroiditis and vitritis, which is highly due to toxoplasmosis. Early initiation of antibiotic therapy is recommended despite pending serology to ensure a good final visual and ocular outcome.
PubMed: 38389616
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.52756 -
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology Feb 2024To study the role of Toxoplasma IgG avidity in evaluating the stage of systemic infection during manifestation as toxoplasma retinochoroiditis and its clinical...
PURPOSE
To study the role of Toxoplasma IgG avidity in evaluating the stage of systemic infection during manifestation as toxoplasma retinochoroiditis and its clinical implications in eastern India.
METHODS
Retrospective chart review of Toxoplasma retinochoroiditis cases with Toxoplasma serology for IgG, IgM, and IgG avidity.
RESULTS
Included in this study were 17 eyes of 17 patients who had active retinitis located in the macula (14), mid-periphery (2), or periphery (1). They were either primary lesions (12) or reactivations (5). All the cases had Toxoplasma IgG positive; one case had IgM positivity, while all the cases had high IgG avidity values. IgG avidity had a positive correlation with the duration of symptoms.
CONCLUSION
We observed high IgG avidity values in active retinochoroiditis in both primary ocular Toxoplasmosis and reactivation subgroups. These results indicate a late ocular manifestation after initial systemic infection with a possible incubation period ranging from 5 weeks to 5 months.
PubMed: 38324620
DOI: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_3000_23 -
PloS One 2024Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is caused by protozoan T. gondii. Ophthalmological examination is considered the gold standard for OT diagnosis, and laboratory tests are used...
Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is caused by protozoan T. gondii. Ophthalmological examination is considered the gold standard for OT diagnosis, and laboratory tests are used for diagnostic confirmation. However, these tests can present different results, which change depending on their basis, on sample type and on patients' clinical alteration. Thus, the aim of the present study is to assess immunodiagnostic and molecular techniques applied in blood, serum and tear fluid to diagnose T. gondii infection in patients seen at an Ophthalmology Clinic. In total, 160 patients were included in the study, 40 of them had OT with active lesions (G1); 40 had OT with healed lesions (G2), 40 had non-toxoplasmic uveitis (G3) and 40 had no ocular alterations (G4). Serum samples were subjected to Immunoenzymatic Assay (ELISA) and to Indirect Immunofluorescence Reaction (IFAT) to search for anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG. Tear fluid samples were analyzed through ELISA for IgA research. All blood and tear fluid samples were subjected to conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) and in a Nested PCR model for T. gondii DNA amplification with targets B1, GRA7 and REP 529. IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii was detected in serum samples from 106 and 15 patients, respectively, when combining ELISA and IFAT results. Anti-T.gondii IgA antibodies were detected in 9.2% of the tear material. Nested PCR with GRA7 target showed higher positivity in blood samples (24.4%); Nested PCR with B1 target showed a higher frequency of positivity in tears (15%). Biological samples of patients with active lesions showed the highest positivity frequencies in all immunodiagnostic assays, as well as in most PCR models. The present results highlighted the need of associating techniques with different fundamentals to confirm OT diagnosis. Furthermore, further tear fluid analyses should be performed to validate this biological material as lesser invasive alternative for the more accurate OT diagnosis.
Topics: Humans; Toxoplasmosis, Ocular; Toxoplasma; Brazil; Antibodies, Protozoan; Immunologic Tests; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Immunoglobulin A
PubMed: 38319921
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298393 -
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on... 2024The imbalance of the immune response is an important factor contributing to the incidence of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT). Regulatory T cells (Treg) play a key role in...
INTRODUCTION
The imbalance of the immune response is an important factor contributing to the incidence of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT). Regulatory T cells (Treg) play a key role in maintaining the balance between Th1 and Th17 immune responses, while interleukin-27 (IL-27) levels are related to the differentiation of Th17 cells. This study analyzes the differences in the number of Treg cells and the level of IL-27 between OT patients and seropositive individuals without ocular lesions and its correlation with retinal lesion size.
METHODS
This analytic observational study, conducted for 8 months, involved 11 OT patients and 10 seropositive individuals without ocular lesions. All subjects underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination. Retinal lesions were documented by fundus photographs and the size was measured using Digimizer 4.2.2.0 software. Isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was performed to measure the number of Treg cells using flow cytometry and interleukin-27 levels were assessed using the Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Data were analyzed with SPSS.
RESULT
The number of Treg cells in the OT group (47.16 ± 15.66%) was lower than in the seropositive group without the ocular lesions (62.86 ± 17.08%) ( = 0.029). The serum IL-27 levels in the OT group were not significantly different from the seropositive group without the ocular lesions ( = 0.360). The number of Treg cells was significantly related to retinal lesion size ( = 0.043), with a correlation coefficient of -0.648, indicating a strong and inverse correlation. There was no significant correlation between serum IL-27 levels and retinal lesion size ( = 0.556).
CONCLUSION
Ocular toxoplasmosis patients have a low number of Treg cells that are inversely related to the retinal lesion size. The size of the retinal lesion increases as the number of Treg cells decreases.
PubMed: 38314317
DOI: 10.1155/2024/3495376 -
Frontiers in Pediatrics 2023Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) has been suggested to be possibly related to congenital toxoplasmosis (CT), although its prevalence varies from 0% to 26%. This...
INTRODUCTION
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) has been suggested to be possibly related to congenital toxoplasmosis (CT), although its prevalence varies from 0% to 26%. This variance appears to be dependent especially on early timing of treatment. However, the available data are based on outdated studies conducted on small groups of patients that lack homogeneity. Therefore, to establish evidence-based guidelines for audiologic monitoring in CT, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of a large case series over a long period of time.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
This is a single-center, retrospective cohort that enrolled all infants and children who were exposed to and/or congenitally infected between September 1980 and December 2022. They underwent standard serial audiological evaluations to detect possible SNHL at an early stage. The first evaluation was performed during the initial assessment to define the onset of congenital toxoplasmosis, with another evaluation conducted at least at 12 months of life.
RESULTS
We collected data from 1,712 patients, and 183 (10.7%) were diagnosed with CT. Among these cases, 78 children (42.6%) presented with symptomatic CT at the onset, exhibiting ocular findings (21.1%), clinical cerebral manifestations (6.1%), and/or abnormal findings on neuroimaging (35.5%). Therapy was administrated at the onset in 164 patients (89.6%) with 115 of them starting treatment prior to 2.5 months of age (0-388, median 32.00 ± 92.352 days of life). Only one patient presented with SNHL at the onset, but this was apparently unrelated to CT. The median number of audiological assessments was 2.2 ± 1.543 (2-10). No patients developed any grade of delayed hearing loss, both in treated and untreated groups. The median age at last audiological evaluation was 2.3 ± 2.18 years (1-8), although the median follow-up period was 12.4 years (±6.3), ranging from 1 to 27 years.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on these data, it appears that SNHL may be less frequent in CT than previously assumed. We recommend conducting an audiological assessment at the onset (within the first 2.5 months of life) to comprehensively define the type of CT onset, and then conducting another evaluation within 9 months of life.
PubMed: 38239593
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1297208 -
Metagenomic analysis of the ocular toxoplasmosis in children uveitis from Fayoum governorate, Egypt.Infection, Genetics and Evolution :... Mar 2024Granulomatous anterior uveitis with single or numerous gelatinous nodules was found in children living in rural Egypt. All ocular diseases were originally thought to be...
Granulomatous anterior uveitis with single or numerous gelatinous nodules was found in children living in rural Egypt. All ocular diseases were originally thought to be water-born and related to digenic flukes. The current study sought to learn more about the causes of anterior granulomatous uveitis in Egyptian youngsters who used to swim in rural water canals. 50 children with eye lesions that had not responded to medical treatment were recruited. Four samples were surgically extracted and examined using real-time PCR, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and shotgun metagenomic sequencing (SMS). Toxoplasma gondii was detected free within the syncytium's distal section, while the proximal part exhibited active synthesis of a presumably extra-polymeric material, possibly released by the microbial population. Toxoplasma gondii was found in 30 samples. Serologically, distinct anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were not found in 91.6% of patients. SMS showed that the T. gondii ME 49 strain had the greatest percentage (29-25%) in all samples within an Acinetobacter-containing microbial community. These findings suggested that these bacteria entered the body via the exterior route rather than the circulatory route. The lack of genetic evidence for subsequent parasite stages invalidates the prior findings about the assumed trematode stage.
Topics: Child; Humans; Toxoplasmosis, Ocular; Egypt; Uveitis; Eye; Toxoplasma; Antibodies, Protozoan; Water
PubMed: 38216107
DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2024.105551