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PubMed1990

Toxoplasma antigens recognized by human immunoglobulin A antibodies.

The immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody response to antigens of Toxoplasma gondii during the acute and chronic stages of T. gondii infection was studied by immunoblotting with a nonreduced antigen (NRA) preparation. Serum samples were from individuals with acute or chronic T. gondii infection, and sequential samples were from women who seroconverted during gestation or congenitally infected infants. IgA antibodies to a variety of antigens were present in sera from each of the groups, irrespective of the titer in an IgA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The predominant NRA recognized by IgA antibodies in sera from each of the four groups had an approximate molecular weight of 30,000. Other prominent NRAs had approximate molecular weights of 35,000 and 5,000; however, the latter NRA was not present in sera of congenitally infected infants.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

HLA-class II genes modify outcome of Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Associations between Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) (i.e. human major histocompatibility complex [MHC]) genes and susceptibility to infections and inflammatory processes have been described, but causal relationships have not been proven. We characterized effects of HLA-DQ alleles on outcome of congenital toxoplasma infection and found that among Caucasians, the DQ3 gene frequency was significantly higher in infected infants with hydrocephalus (0.783) than infected infants without hydrocephalus (0.444) or published normal controls (0.487). We then developed a novel animal model to definitively determine the effect of these HLA DQ molecules on the severity of toxoplasmosis. Human MHC-Class II transgenes reduced parasite burden and necrosis in brains of mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Consistent with the observed association between DQ3 and hydrocephalus in human infants, in the murine model the DQ3(DQ8; DQB1*0302) gene protected less than DQ1 (DQ6; DQB1*0601). Our findings definitively prove a cause and effect relationship between human MHC genes and resistance to infection, provide novel means to characterise human immune responses that are protective or pathogenic in infections, and are important for vaccine development.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Parasitic infections of the central nervous system in children. Part I: Congenital infections and meningoencephalitis.

This review article presents the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, laboratory and radiologic findings, and treatment of parasitic infections of the central nervous system in children. Some obscure parasitic infections are included. To assist the clinician faced with a specific case, infections are categorized first by predominant clinical manifestations: congenital disease, meningoencephalitis, focal lesions, and disseminated multisystem disease. Within the clinical categories, parasites are grouped according to the geographic area where most human infections occur. Congenital infections and those that present most frequently as meningoencephalitis are discussed in this part of the review.

Acanthamoeba↗
PubMed1990

Rapid prenatal diagnosis of congenital Toxoplasma infection by using polymerase chain reaction and amniotic fluid.

Infection of pregnant women with Toxoplasma gondii places the developing fetus at risk for congenital infection. We report a prospective study of 43 documented cases of acute maternal Toxoplasma infections acquired during gestation in which the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was evaluated for diagnosis of fetal infection and compared with the current standard methods. On the basis of direct lysis of pelleted amniotic fluid cells followed by amplification of a gene sequence specific for T. gondii, PCR correctly identified the presence of T. gondii in five of five samples of amniotic fluid from four proven cases of congenital infection. PCR also detected three of five positive cases from a nonprospective group. The two diagnostic methods of comparable speed, detection of specific immunoglobulin M from fetal blood and and inoculation of amniotic fluid into tissue culture, correctly identified only 3 and 4 of the 10 positive samples, respectively. The considerably more time-consuming methods of mouse inoculation of amniotic fluid and fetal blood both detected 7 of 10 positive samples. There were no false-positive diagnoses by any of the methods. Therefore, detection of T. gondii by PCR appears to be the most promising method for prenatal diagnosis of congenital Toxoplasma infection, since it is both extremely rapid and highly sensitive.

Amniocentesis↗
PubMed1990

Social interactions of mice with congenital Toxoplasma infection.

The social interactions of male mice with subclinical congenital Toxoplasma infection towards their uninfected counterparts was assessed using a procedure based on the subdivision of behaviour into element groups. Infection had no effect on behavioural elements not directly associated with interaction. However infection was found to increase companion investigation as well as a number of elements directly associated with aggression. There was a complementary decrease in elements associated with flight behaviour. These findings suggest that congenital infection with Toxoplasma renders mice less cautious towards uninfected conspecifics and increases the tendency of adult male mice towards territorial aggression.

Aggression↗
PubMed1985

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii antigens by a dot-immunobinding technique.

A sensitive assay for the detection of antigens of Toxoplasma gondii by spotting samples directly onto nitrocellulose paper was developed. The sensitivity ranged from 10 to 40 pg of antigen diluted in phosphate-buffered saline and 40 to 130 pg of antigen diluted in normal mouse serum, normal human serum, or human cerebrospinal fluid. T. gondii antigen in serum samples taken from mice infected with T. gondii was detectable by day 2 of infection. Antigen was also detectable in cerebrospinal fluid samples taken from four of six infants congenitally infected with T. gondii and in serum samples from two of these infants.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Diagnosis of congenital Toxoplasma gondii infection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on amniotic fluid samples. The Norwegian experience.

As part of a screening project for detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women in Norway, nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) aimed at the detection of T. gondii in amniotic fluid samples was included in the diagnostic routine. The results were compared with the routine criteria for congenital infection: i) T. gondii detected in amniotic fluid or cord blood by mouse inoculation, ii) specific IgM or IgA in serum collected after birth, and/or iii) specific IgG persisting beyond one year of age. The PCR was based on the B1 gene with an internal control gene amplified together with the B1 gene. One hundred and two amniotic fluid samples collected during pregnancy and/or at delivery from 67 pregnant women with serological evidence of primary T. gondii infection were available for examination by both B1-PCR and mouse inoculation. Six samples were positive and 86 samples were negative by both methods (90% concordance). One sample was mouse inoculation positive and B1-PCR negative while nine samples were B1-PCR positive and mouse inoculation negative, of which five were associated with four infants without proven infection. 59%, and 41% of samples associated with infected infants were positive by B1-PCR and mouse inoculation, respectively. The difference was mainly due to a lower detection rate by mouse inoculation after antiparasitic treatment. The specificity of B1-PCR was 94%. Even though B1-PCR performed on amniotic fluid samples did not detect all infected infants, it represented a valuable tool in addition to conventional methods in the diagnosis of congenital T. gondii infection.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1987

Antibody prevalence to torch agents in pregnant women and relative risk of congenital infections in Italy (Liguria).

A study on the prevalence of seropositivity to T.gondii, Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes simplex virus (type 1 and type 2) was carried out in pregnant women aged 15-45 years. An overall prevalence of 40.7% to T.gondii, of 90.1% to Rubella virus, of 80.8% to Cytomegalovirus, of 82.3% and of 69% to Herpes simplex virus, respectively type 1 and type 2 was found. Cytomegalovirus infection was prevalent in women from low socioeconomic background. Herpes simplex 1 infection was higher in women living in quarters of high density population, whereas antibody prevalence to Rubella virus was higher in women from high socioeconomic setting. The expected fetal risk for T.gondii, Rubella and Cytomegalovirus infections has been assessed on the basis of the yearly seroconversion rate for each pathogen in the study population and of the known transplacental transmission rates after primary and recurrent infection in pregnancy. Thus, the expected incidence of congenital T.gondii infection in this geographic area is 0.2-0.3%, of congenital Rubella infection of 0.02% and of congenital Cytomegalovirus infection of 0.3-1.15%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among 2016 pregnant women and their children in the Institute of Mother and Child in Warsaw].

During the year 2000 a screening was performed to estimate the frequency of Toxoplasma gondii infections in 2016 pregnant women and their children in the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics and in the Outpatient Clinic of the Institute of Mother and Child in Warsaw. The study was based on identifying IgG and IgM specific antibodies. All tests were done in the Department of Immunology. Women with serologically diagnosed primary infection were offered further follow up, antibiotic therapy and care during delivery in the Institute of Mother and Child. Children born by infected mothers were examined serologically and observed in terms of congenital abnormality. There were 1294 (64.19%) seronegative; 722 (35.81%) were infected before pregnancy (the presence of IgG antibodies). Five women with previous seronegative results (0.29%) were diagnosed as having primary infection during pregnancy. Congenital infection, confirmed serologically, was recognized in 3 newborn infants.

Animals↗