Congenital Toxoplasmosis: Overview
- Congenital toxoplasmosis is currently the second most commonly recognized congenital infection, but approximately 10-fold less common than congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV).
- Caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoal parasite infecting mammals (especially domestic cats) and birds.
- Humans typically infected via ingestion of food (commonly meats) contaminated with cysts or oocysts.
Clinical Presentation and Maternal Infection
- Maternal symptoms often mild or absent; if present, commonly lymphadenopathy, sometimes accompanied by fever, resembling infectious mononucleosis.
- Congenital infection rates range from 0.1–1.0 per 1000 live births; particularly high prevalence in France.
- Majority of infected infants asymptomatic at birth; infection transmitted from maternal blood to placenta and subsequently fetal circulation.
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