Congenital toxoplasmosis transmitted from an immunologically competent mother infected before conception

Nicolas Vogel, Michael Kirisits, Eric Michael, Howard Bach, Margaret Hostetter, Kenneth Boyer, Ross Simpson, Ellen Holfels, Joyce Hopkins, Douglas Mack, Marilyn B. Mets, Charles N. Swisher, Dushyant Patel, Nancy Roizen, Laszlo Stein, Mark Stein, Shawn Withers, Ernest Mui, Charles Egwuagu, Jack RemingtonRonald Dorfman, Rima McLeod*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

108 Scopus citations

Abstract

Congenital transmission of Toxoplasma gondii from a mother who was apparently immunologically competent and who had toxoplasmic lymphadenitis 2 months before conception is described. Since no T. gondii-specific serological data were available for this mother from the time her lymph node biopsy specimen was obtained, the specimen was studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine whether the T. gondii B1 gene was present. The predictive diagnostic value of histologic findings previously considered to be classic signs of T. gondii lymphadenitis also was studied. This was done by correlation of serological tests diagnostic of acute acquired T. gondii infection and presence of characteristic findings in biopsy specimens from persons without known immunocompromise. Both PCR and review of the characteristic features of her lymph node biopsy specimen confirmed the diagnosis of preconceptual infection in the mother. We also discuss two other cases in which apparently immunologically competent mothers with preconceptually acquired infection transmitted this parasite to their fetuses.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1055-1060
Number of pages6
JournalClinical Infectious Diseases
Volume23
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

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