Desafios e perspectivas da toxoplasmose gestacional e congênita: uma revisão da literatura

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is the World’s most common parasitic infection, occurring independently of region or climate characteristics. Generally, it is presented as asymptomatic or subclinical infection in immunocompromised subjects. However, it can become an important issue when the primo-infection happens during pregnancy due to risks of vertical transmission generating great public health problems such as sequelae to the concept, fetal death, macro and microcephaly, retinochoroiditis and cognitive dysfunction. These sequelae have less chances to happen when the infection is diagnosed early and the anti-parasitic treatment is subsequently started, thus, it is important to make a correct diagnosis during prenatal screening. Due to its capacity of eurixenic interactions, this parasite, although being a unique specie of its genus, shows a highly diverse genetic mainly in Brazil. This fact can be related to a higher morbidity rates of Toxoplasma infections around the population. In this context, this work aims to review and update important points involving the host-parasite interactions concerning gestational/congenital toxoplasmosis and the possible mechanisms of the parasite’s transplacental transmission, physiopathological and immunopathogenic aspects and also highlight the importance of the early diagnosis of acute infection in pregnant women to prevent sequelae that might be harmful to the fetus, showing preventive strategies adopted by governmental policies and its promising results as well as important advances in the development of new therapies against Toxoplasma gondii.