Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of the National Medical Association logoLink to Journal of the National Medical Association
letter
. 1983 Feb;75(2):169–174.

Congenital Ocular Toxoplasmosis

Dwight D Perry, John C Merritt
PMCID: PMC2561459  PMID: 6827609

Abstract

Congenital ocular toxoplasmosis is a significant cause of blindness. Retinochoroiditis is the most common finding, but other ocular manifestations include microphthalmus, nystagmus, strabismus, and ptosis. The serologic tests and lymphocyte stimulation test are the most useful aids in making the diagnosis. Pyrimethamine, sulfonamides, and corticosteroids are useful to treat active lesions. Primary care physicians, obstetricians, and ophthalmologists may help to prevent transmission of the disease and its serious ocular sequelae.

Full text

PDF
169

Images in this article

171Figure 1
on p.171
171Figure 2
on p.171

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Alford C. A., Jr, Foft J. W., Blankenship W. J., Cassady G., Benton J. W., Jr Subclinical central nervous system disease of neonates: a prospective study of infants born with increased levels of IgM. J Pediatr. 1969 Dec;75(6):1167–1178. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(69)80372-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Anderson S. E., Remington J. S. The diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. South Med J. 1975 Nov;68(11):1433–1443. doi: 10.1097/00007611-197511000-00025. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. COUVREUR J., DESMONTS G. Congenital and maternal toxoplasmosis. A review of 300 congenital cases. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1962 Oct;4:519–530. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Chesterton J. R., Perkins E. S. Ocular toxoplasmosis among Negro immigrants in London. Br J Ophthalmol. 1967 Sep;51(9):617–621. doi: 10.1136/bjo.51.9.617. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Desmonts G., Couvreur J. Congenital toxoplasmosis. A prospective study of 378 pregnancies. N Engl J Med. 1974 May 16;290(20):1110–1116. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197405162902003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. FAIR J. R. Congenital toxoplasmosis. III. Ocular signs of the disease in state schools for the blind. Am J Ophthalmol. 1959 Aug;48(2):165–172. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. FAIR J. R. Congenital toxoplasmosis; chorioretinitis as the only manifestation of the disease. Am J Ophthalmol. 1958 Aug;46(2):135–154. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. FELDMAN H. A. Epidemiological aspects of toxoplasmosis. Surv Ophthalmol. 1961 Dec;6:758–780. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Feldman H. A. Toxoplasmosis. N Engl J Med. 1968 Dec 19;279(25):1370–contd. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196812192792505. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Frenkel J. K. Pursuing toxoplasma. J Infect Dis. 1970 Dec;122(6):553–559. doi: 10.1093/infdis/122.6.553. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Garcia A. G. Congenital toxoplasmosis in two successive sibs. Arch Dis Child. 1968 Dec;43(232):705–710. doi: 10.1136/adc.43.232.705. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Gordon D. M. The treatment of toxoplasmic uveitis. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 1970 Fall;10(3):639–646. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. HOGAN M. J., KIMURA S. J., O'CONNOR G. R. OCULAR TOXOPLASMOSIS. Arch Ophthalmol. 1964 Nov;72:592–600. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1964.00970020592003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Kean B. H., Kimball A. C., Christenson W. N. An epidemic of acute toxoplasmosis. JAMA. 1969 May 12;208(6):1002–1004. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Kimball A. C., Kean B. H., Fuchs F. Congenital toxoplasmosis: a prospective study of 4,048 obstetric patients. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1971 Sep 15;111(2):211–218. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(71)90892-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Lou P., Kazdan J., Basu P. K. Ocular toxoplasmosis in three consecutive siblings. Arch Ophthalmol. 1978 Apr;96(4):613–614. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1978.03910050309001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Martin W. G., Brown G. C., Parrish R. K., Kimball R., Naidoff M. A., Benson W. E. Ocular toxoplasmosis and visual field defects. Am J Ophthalmol. 1980 Jul;90(1):25–29. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(14)75073-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Maumenee A. E. Clinical entities in "uveitis": an approach to the study of intraocular inflammation. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol. 1970 May-Jun;74(3):473–504. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Nolan J., Rosen E. S. Treatment of active toxoplasmic retino-choroiditis. Br J Ophthalmol. 1968 May;52(5):396–399. doi: 10.1136/bjo.52.5.396. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. O'Connor G. R. Manifestations and management of ocular toxoplasmosis. Bull N Y Acad Med. 1974 Feb;50(2):192–210. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Perkins E. S. Pattern of uveitis in children. Br J Ophthalmol. 1966 Apr;50(4):169–185. doi: 10.1136/bjo.50.4.169. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Perry D. D., Marritt J. C., Greenwood R. S., Collier A. M., Tennison M. B. Congenital toxoplasmosis associated with acquired oculomotor nerve (CN III) palsy. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 1982 Sep-Oct;19(5):265–269. doi: 10.3928/0191-3913-19820901-19. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Peterson D. R., Tronca E., Bonin P. Human toxoplasmosis prevalence and exposure to cats. Am J Epidemiol. 1972 Sep;96(3):215–218. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a121450. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Price J. H. Toxoplasma infection in an urban community. Br Med J. 1969 Oct 18;4(5676):141–143. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5676.141. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Remington J. S., Desmonts G. Congenital toxoplasmosis: variability in the IgM-fluorescent antibody response and some pitfalls in diagnosis. J Pediatr. 1973 Jul;83(1):27–30. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(73)80307-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Remington J. S. Toxoplasmosis in the adult. Bull N Y Acad Med. 1974 Feb;50(2):211–227. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. SUMMERS W. A. The chemotherapeutic efficacy of 2,4-diamino-5-p-chlorophenyl-6-ethylpyrimidine (daraprim) in experimental toxoplasmosis. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1953 Nov;2(6):1037–1044. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1953.2.1037. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Sabin A. B., Feldman H. A. Dyes as Microchemical Indicators of a New Immunity Phenomenon Affecting a Protozoon Parasite (Toxoplasma). Science. 1948 Dec 10;108(2815):660–663. doi: 10.1126/science.108.2815.660. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Siim J. C., Hutchison W. M., Work K. Transmission of Toxoplasma gondii. Further studies on the morphology of the cystic form in cat faeces. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand. 1969;77(4):756–757. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Smith R. E., Ganley J. P. Ophthalmic survey of a community. 1. Abnormalities of the ocular fundus. Am J Ophthalmol. 1972 Dec;74(6):1126–1130. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(72)90732-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Stagno S. Toxoplasmosis. Am J Nurs. 1980 Apr;80(4):720–722. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Tabbara K. F., Dy-Liacco J., Nozik R. A., O'Connor G. R., Blackman H. J. Clindamycin in chronic toxoplasmosis. Effect of periocular injections on recoverability of organisms from healed lesions in the rabbit eye. Arch Ophthalmol. 1979 Mar;97(3):542–544. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1979.01020010286021. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Tabbara K. F., O'Connor G. R. Ocular tissue absorption of clindamycin phosphate. Arch Ophthalmol. 1975 Nov;93(11):1180–1185. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1975.01010020882011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Tabbara K. F., O'Connor G. R. Treatment of ocular toxoplasmosis with clindamycin and sulfadiazine. Ophthalmology. 1980 Feb;87(2):129–134. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(80)35268-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. WILDER H. C. Toxoplasma chorioretinitis in adults. AMA Arch Ophthalmol. 1952 Aug;48(2):127–136. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1952.00920010132001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Wallace G. D. Experimental transmission of Toxoplasma gondii by cockroaches. J Infect Dis. 1972 Nov;126(5):545–547. doi: 10.1093/infdis/126.5.545. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Wallace G. D. Experimental transmission of Toxoplasma gondii by filth-flies. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1971 May;20(3):411–413. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1971.20.411. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Wilson C. B., Desmonts G., Couvreur J., Remington J. S. Lymphocyte transformation in the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasma infection. N Engl J Med. 1980 Apr 3;302(14):785–788. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198004033021406. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Wilson C. B., Remington J. S., Stagno S., Reynolds D. W. Development of adverse sequelae in children born with subclinical congenital Toxoplasma infection. Pediatrics. 1980 Nov;66(5):767–774. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Wolf A., Cowen D., Paige B. H. TOXOPLASMIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS : IV. EXPERIMENTAL TRANSMISSION OF THE INFECTION TO ANIMALS FROM A HUMAN INFANT. J Exp Med. 1940 Jan 31;71(2):187–214. doi: 10.1084/jem.71.2.187. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Wolf A., Cowen D., Paige B. H. Toxoplasmic encephalomyelitis: III. A new case of granulomatous encephalomyelitis due to a protozoon. Am J Pathol. 1939 Nov;15(6):657–694.11. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. van der Veen J., Polak M. F. Prevalence of toxoplasma antibodies according to age with comments on the risk of prenatal infection. J Hyg (Lond) 1980 Oct;85(2):165–174. doi: 10.1017/s0022172400063191. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of the National Medical Association are provided here courtesy of National Medical Association

RESOURCES