5 Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy

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Summary

Primary infection with Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women occurs all over the world with frequencies between 0.1–1%. In approximately 40% of the cases, the unborn child is infected. The risk of fetal infection increases during pregnancy, while at the same time the risk of severe disease decreases. As a result, infants with congenital toxoplasmosis are mostly asymptomatic at birth, but long-term studies indicate that up to 85% of them will develop sequelae including chorioretinitis (leading to severe impairment of vision), hearing loss or mental retardation.

Early recognition of maternal infection and treatment with spiramycin or pyrimethamine-sulphadiazine will reduce the parasitic colonization of the

It is possible today to identify infected fetuses by prenatal diagnosis based on detection of the parasite in cord blood, amniotic fluid and placental tissue. Specific antibodies and non-specific signs of infection in fetal blood give additional information. Advances in laboratory techniques have made it feasible to consider serological surveillance of pregnant women. The present recommendation is that each country should provide data on the incidence of toxoplasma infection in pregnancy and thereby decide whether it represents a problem and what measures should be adopted.

This paper summarizes the present knowledge of the parasite and its implication for the mother and unborn child. The effect and problems of primary and secondary prevention in pregnancy are discussed as well as the efficacy of treatment. The need for future research including long-term follow-up studies are emphasized.

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      Seule une faible proportion d'entre elles en viendront à présenter des symptômes cliniques de la maladie8, 12. Le tableau clinique chez les femmes enceintes n'est pas plus grave que chez les femmes n'étant pas enceintes et se manifeste le plus souvent sous forme de syndrome d'allure grippal (température subfébrile, malaise, lymphadénopathie), dont la période d'incubation s'étend de 5 à 18 jours à la suite de l'exposition11, 12, 14. Les femmes enceintes présenteront rarement des modifications visuelles attribuables à la choriorétinite toxoplasmique15, 16.

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      IgM antibody titres rise from 5 days to weeks following acute infection, reaching a maximum after 1 to 2 months and decline more rapidly than IgG.14 Although IgM antibodies can decrease to low or undetectable levels, in many cases they may persist for years following the acute infection.14,18 IgG antibodies appear later than IgM and are usually detectable within 1 to 2 weeks after the infection, with the peak reached within 12 weeks to 6 months after acute infection.

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      Ainsi, il est très important de confirmer les résultats positifs quant aux anticorps auprès d’un laboratoire de référence en matière de toxoplasmose (disponible à Montréal, au Québec, et à Palo Alto, en Californie)18–20. Des épreuves biologiques particulières sont mises en œuvre au sein de ces laboratoires en vue de mesurer les taux d’anticorps de façon plus précise, comme le test de lyse des toxoplasmes et le test d’immunofluorescence indirecte14,18. Il est important de déterminer le moment auquel l’infection s’est manifestée au cours de la grossesse, car il s’agit là d’un paramètre utile pour ce qui est de l’évaluation du risque de transmission fœtale, de la mise en œuvre d’une antibiothérapie et de l’offre de services prénataux de counseling appropriés19.

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