BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis may recur months or years after the primary infection. Rupture of dormant cysts in the retina is the accepted hypothesis to explain recurrence. Here, the authors present evidence supporting the presence of Toxoplasma gondii in the peripheral blood of immunocompetent patients. METHODS: Direct observation by light microscopy and by immunofluorescence assay was performed, and results were confirmed by PCR amplification of parasite DNA. RESULTS: The authors studied 20 patients from Erechim, Brazil, including acute infected patients, patients with recurrent active toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis, patients with old toxoplasmic retinal scars, and patients with circulating IgG antibodies against T gondii and absence of ocular lesions. Blood samples were analysed, and T gondii was found in the blood of acutely and chronically infected patients regardless of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the parasite may circulate in the blood of immunocompetent individuals and that parasitaemia could be associated with the reactivation of the ocular disease.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis may recur months or years after the primary infection. Rupture of dormant cysts in the retina is the accepted hypothesis to explain recurrence. Here, the authors present evidence supporting the presence of Toxoplasma gondii in the peripheral blood of immunocompetent patients. METHODS: Direct observation by light microscopy and by immunofluorescence assay was performed, and results were confirmed by PCR amplification of parasite DNA. RESULTS: The authors studied 20 patients from Erechim, Brazil, including acute infectedpatients, patients with recurrent active toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis, patients with old toxoplasmic retinal scars, and patients with circulating IgG antibodies against T gondii and absence of ocular lesions. Blood samples were analysed, and T gondii was found in the blood of acutely and chronically infectedpatients regardless of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the parasite may circulate in the blood of immunocompetent individuals and that parasitaemia could be associated with the reactivation of the ocular disease.
Authors: Elizabeth Souza Neves; Otavio Melo Espíndola; André Curi; Maria Regina Amendoeira; Danielle Nascimento Rocha; Leonardo Henrique Ferreira Gomes; Letícia Cunha Guida Journal: Parasitol Res Date: 2021-01-08 Impact factor: 2.289
Authors: C Bourdin; A Busse; E Kouamou; F Touafek; B Bodaghi; P Le Hoang; D Mazier; L Paris; A Fekkar Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2014-09-10 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Arpita S Bharadwaj; Binoy Appukuttan; Phillip A Wilmarth; Yuzhen Pan; Andrew J Stempel; Timothy J Chipps; Eric E Benedetti; David O Zamora; Dongseok Choi; Larry L David; Justine R Smith Journal: Prog Retin Eye Res Date: 2012-09-11 Impact factor: 21.198
Authors: Eduardo A Novais; Alessandra G Commodaro; Fábio Santos; Cristina Muccioli; André Maia; Heloisa Nascimento; Cecilia T A Moeller; Luiz V Rizzo; Michael E Grigg; Rubens Belfort Journal: Br J Ophthalmol Date: 2014-02-11 Impact factor: 4.638
Authors: João M Furtado; Arpita S Bharadwaj; Liam M Ashander; Antoinette Olivas; Justine R Smith Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 2012-10-03 Impact factor: 4.799