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Infectious Optic Neuropathies
Published in Vivek Lal, A Clinical Approach to Neuro-Ophthalmic Disorders, 2023
Imran Rizvi, Ravindra Kumar Garg
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that affects immunocompromised hosts. Ocular toxoplasmosis typically presents with unifocal retino-choriditis.2 Other ocular manifestations include multifocal retino-choriditis, scleritis, retinitis and uveitis.61 Optic nerve involvement manifests with reactive optic disc hyperemia, neuroretinitis, papillitis and isolated anterior optic neuritis.2,62 Prompt clinical suspicion is needed for an early diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. A positive anti-toxoplasma IgG antibody assay does not confirm the diagnosis; however, a negative serology rules out the possibility of toxoplasmosis. Western blot techniques can be used for antibody detection in aqueous or vitreous humor. A PCR test is used for demonstration of Toxoplasma DNA in ocular fluid.2 A combination of anti-parasitic treatment along with corticosteroids is used for the treatment. The standard anti-parasitic treatment includes pyrimethamine plus sulfadiazine along with folinic acid.61 Overall visual prognosis, after treatment, is generally good.62
Toxoplasmosis
Published in Hung N. Winn, Frank A. Chervenak, Roberto Romero, Clinical Maternal-Fetal Medicine Online, 2021
Although toxoplasma encephalitis (1) has gained worldwide recognition as a major cause of death and morbidity in immunodeficient individuals, especially those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the fetus and child remain the major victims of toxoplasmic infection. Approximately 4000 pregnant women per year in the United States are infected with Toxoplasma gondii and 10% to 60% of their fetuses will be infected. Although the majority (>90%) appear asymptomatic at birth, long-term studies suggest that a significant proportion (20–40%) will demonstrate defects consistent with chronic toxoplasmosis. These defects include chorioretinitis (most common), hydrocephalus, deafness, and mental retardation. Unfortunately, problems in primary prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up limit the effectiveness of intervention programs.
The Compromised Host: AIDS and Other Diseases
Published in Peter D. Walzer, Robert M. Genta, Parasitic Infections in the Compromised Host, 2020
Toxoplasma gondii has been shown by reliable serological techniques to be present in 20-70% of North Americans, who appear to acquire infection by consuming inadequately cooked meat or by exposure to the feces of cats producing oocysts in their gastrointestinal mucosa (1,2,22,23). Some disease in immunocompromised patients may be due to primary infection. Serological data suggest that most toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients represents reactivated latent infection. In some western countries such as France, T. gondii infection is even more common than in the United States, occurring in 87% of Parisians 30-40 years old (22).
Arctigenin: pharmacology, total synthesis, and progress in structure modification
Published in Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry, 2022
Dan Wu, Lili Jin, Xing Huang, Hao Deng, Qing-kun Shen, Zhe-shan Quan, Changhao Zhang, Hong-Yan Guo
Toxoplasmosis is a global parasitic disease and is caused by the specialised intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which infects approximately one-third of the world’s population148. The traditional treatments for toxoplasmosis include ethidiazine, sulfadiazine, spiramycin, and atovaquone. Clinically, etanercept and sulfadiazine have shown significant anthelmintic effects, but the combination of the two drugs can cause serious adverse effects such as hypersensitivity reactions, bone marrow suppression, intolerance, and an increased risk of liver and renal complications149. To date, there is no ideal drug that can completely eradicate all forms of Toxoplasma gondii. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop highly effective and less toxic tolerable drugs for the treatment of this parasitic infection.
Role of environmental factors in multiple sclerosis
Published in Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 2021
Amin Zarghami, Ying Li, Suzi B. Claflin, Ingrid van der Mei, Bruce V. Taylor
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by infection with Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan and a neurotropic parasite that has been linked to several neuropsychiatric disorders [154]. However, its effect on MS onset remains unclear. A 2018 meta-analysis of five studies (n = 669 PwMS vs. 770 controls) reported a lower seroprevalence of T. gondii among PwMS (32.4%) compared to controls (39.1%). However, T. gondii infection (past or current) was not associated with a lower likelihood of living with MS (OR: 0.72; 95%CI:0.49–1.06) [155]. We identified two case-control studies on the role of T. gondii in MS onset risk. One (2020, n = 129 MS, 287 control) found a significant protective effect of T. gondii seropositivity [156], while the other (2020, n = 45 MS, 225 control) did not support an association [157].
Clinical, Socio-economic and Environmental Factors Related with Recurrences in Ocular Toxoplasmosis in Quindío, Colombia
Published in Ophthalmic Epidemiology, 2021
Stefany Velasco-Velásquez, Daniel Celis-Giraldo, Andrea Botero Hincapié, Diego Alejandro Hincapie Erira, Sara Sofia Cordero López, Nathalia Marulanda Orozco, Jorge Enrique Gómez-Marín
Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii.1 This affects one-third of the global population.2,3 In its life cycle, cats are the definitive hosts and a variety of animals are its intermediate hosts, including humans.4 It can be acquired via mother-to-child transmission and environmental factors. The parasite has several stages, starting with the oocysts as a product of the sexual phase in the feline’s bowel, which will be excreted in the faeces and sporulated and then ingested by humans and other animals.4 In the intermediate host, they change to tachyzoites – the acute and active form – and will spread haematogenously, producing clinical manifestations. Finally, it will change to bradyzoites, as latent and chronic form.5,6