[Toxoplasmosis and ocular pathology].

Toxoplasmosis is the leading cause of posterior uveitis in the immunocompetent adult, and potentially leads to blindness. Ocular Toxoplasmosis is usually considered a recurrence of a congenital infection, and this fact enhances the importance of prevention in pregnant women in order to avoid transplacental passage of free forms of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Ocular toxoplasmosis can also be acquired following undiagnosed primary infection in immunocompetent or immunodeficient patients, particularly AIDS patients for whom it indicates a modification of the immunologic pattern. The typical ocular lesion is necrotizing retinitis, satellite of an existing scar, whose situation in the fundus of the eye, number, size, aspect and evolution are variable; more rarely, ocular toxoplasmosis presents in other forms (anterior uveitis, pars-planitis, scleritis, papillitis). The treatment of ocular toxoplasmosis, remains controversial, in particular due to drug side effects. This enhances the importance of alimentary and environmental prevention.