Comments and Conclusions
- Toxoplasmosis is the most common cause of intraocular inflammation in the world.
- Toxoplasmosis is responsible for approximately 30-50% of all posterior uveitis cases in the United States.
- The cat is the definitive host that becomes infected by eating contaminated raw meat, wild birds, or mice.
- Toxoplasmosis may be congenital or acquired. When a pregnant susceptible woman acquires primary toxoplasmosis, transplacental transmission of the parasite to the fetus may occur.
- The classic clinical triad of retinochoroiditis, cerebral calcifications, and convulsions defines congenital toxoplasmosis.
- The diagnosis is usually based on the clinical appearance of the fundus lesion and serologic evidence of exposure to Toxoplasma organisms serves as supportive evidence.
- Serum antitoxoplasma antibody titers can be determined by several techniques including Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
- Quadruple therapy refers to pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine, clindamycin, and prednisone (1 mg/kg of weight). Pyrimethamine should be combined with folinic acid to avoid hematological complications.
- Risk factors for toxoplasmosis include: Immunodeficiency states (e.g. AIDS), immunosuppression in patients who have undergone organ transplantation, and malignancies and exposure to cats.