Toxoplasma igg positive that. Test for toxoplasmosis: IgM negative - What does this mean? Treatment of toxoplasmosis in people with weakened immune systems in the absence of pregnancy

One of the most important and main indicators of Toxoplasma carriage is the presence of class G immunoglobulins in the blood serum.

Antibodies class G

What is immunoglobulin? Immunoglobulin (or antibodies) are protein structures in the blood plasma that are formed in response to various enemy agents in the form of bacteria, viruses and other antigens entering the human body.

Antibodies- the most important factor in specific humoral immunity, that is, the type of defense that is responsible for the search, recognition and elimination of foreign substances - bacteria and viruses.

Antibodies class G (IgG):

• are the main agents of the immune system in the process of destroying the enemy;
• synthesized by “adult” B-lymphocytes.

The amount of such immunoglobulin in the body of a healthy person reaches 75-80% of the total amount of serum antibodies.

Due to its tiny size and weight (150 kDa), it is the only protective protein that is able to penetrate the placental barrier. This means that its capabilities include ensuring the immunity of the fetus and newborn baby.

Interesting to know: the concentration of class G antibodies reflects the level of maternal iGG.

When do they appear in the body and what does it mean?

As soon as a certain amount of foreign proteins (antigens) enter the human body, our immunocompetent cells immediately sound the alarm - they transmit this information to those organs responsible for immunity.

Those, in turn, begin to produce specific cells that are “suitable” specifically for those antibodies that have crept into the body.

But IgG is not the type of protein that responds to infection in the short term (from a few minutes to hours). Its main task is to maintain the body’s defenses for a long time, that is, the time it enters the bloodstream occurs 2-3 days after infection with a bacterium or infection.

Class G immunoglobulin is a universal method of protection.

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How is IgG level determined?

To determine the level of immunoglobulins G, clinicians use the following methods:

• ELISA();
• PCR (polymerase chain reaction).

At the first stage of diagnosis, using these two methods, blood is examined for the presence of class G antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii.

Reference values:

• No reaction (negative) –<0.8 S/CO (signal/cutoff).
• Doubtful (intermediate) – 0.8< 1.0 S/CO (signal/cutoff).
• Reaction is present (positive) – 1.0 S/CO (signal/cutoff).

Various biological fluids are used as material for analysis:

• deoxygenated blood;
• urine; If , its meaning can be found here.
• saliva;

Treatment should be started immediately! Protect yourself and your loved ones!

What is needed to successfully submit the research material?

In order to obtain truthful information, you need to properly prepare and donate venous blood for analysis:

1. 2-3 days before the test, you need to exclude from your diet all fried, salty and fatty foods, coffee and carbonated sweet water, alcohol in any form (this also applies to beer and other low-alcohol drinks).
2. If the person being studied has recently suffered from any illness or is currently taking medications, the doctor will determine the optimal regimen before the study.
3. You must stop physical exercise two days before. Also, do not carry out physiotherapeutic procedures and other physical therapy activities.
4. It is recommended to come to the treatment room in the morning before breakfast, on an empty stomach. The nurse will draw blood from a vein in the area of ​​the elbow joint.

Advice: it is better to take care of appropriate clothing with loose sleeves (T-shirts, T-shirts).

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What does “No reaction” and “Reaction present” mean?

The reaction is present - this means that antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii are present in your blood.

Lack of reaction means that there are no antibodies in your body that react to Toxoplasma.

What does this mean:

• There is no infection.
• There is a recent infection, but to which the immune response has not formed.
• The infection happened a long time ago, several months ago or more.

In addition, the following options are also possible when interpreting blood serum results:

What are the symptoms and signs of toxoplasmosis?

Very often, toxoplasmosis occurs unnoticed by the carrier. If someone finds out that he is sick with toxoplasma, it is only by chance.

The first manifestations of the action of the causative agent of toxoplasmosis are similar to the debut of an acute respiratory viral infection. Most often, the disease develops in cases of weakened immunity, which can be caused by recent illnesses.

Doctors distinguish two forms of toxoplasmosis: congenital and acquired. The first option is quite painful and affects many organs and systems.

Thus, the following symptoms of congenital toxoplasmosis can be distinguished:

• Increased body temperature;
• Lethargy, chills, powerlessness;
• Rash on various parts of the body;
• Drowsiness;
• Apathy, low mood;
• Decreased muscle tone;
• Strabismus;
• Sometimes jaundice appears;
• Splenohepomegaly is an increase in the size of the liver and spleen.

In some severe cases, the following manifestations may occur:

• Dropsy of the brain (hydrocephalus);
• Visual impairment.

With acquired toxoplasmosis, the clinical picture is more varied and includes the following manifestations:

• Increased body temperature;
• mild headache;
• Lethargy, weakness, powerlessness;
• Reduced performance;
• Bad mood, emotional lability, irritability;
• Pain in the joints and muscles;
• Splenohepomegaly;
• Enlargement of the cervical and submandibular lymph nodes;
• Organic brain lesions;
• Layering of other viral diseases of the respiratory system (pneumonia, bronchitis, laryngitis).

As you can see, the clinical picture of toxoplasmosis is varied and does not have specific symptoms. Therefore, if you find such symptoms, you should immediately contact a specialist and conduct tests for the presence of antibodies to Toxoplasma.

A few useful notes:

And remember: no stress! Indeed, in recent research by scientists it has been proven that negative impacts on psychological life have a detrimental effect on the functioning of all organs and systems.

There are currently known ways in which this microorganism changes the behavior of a rodent after infection. This is accomplished by chromatin remodeling, i.e., recoding information into DNA. As a result, the functioning of genes associated with the regulation of the hormone vasopressin and the amino acid arginine in the brain structure, which is involved in the formation of negative and positive emotions, changes. Because of this, the reaction of flight in the presence of predators is inhibited. Interestingly, symptoms of aversion inhibition to cat excretions can also appear in an infected person.

After some time, cysts (a temporary form of existence of microorganisms where the larvae are located) leave the cat’s body along with excrement. They infect birds, rodents, and other representatives of the animal world after eating contaminated particles of soil, water or plants.

Thus, cats catch and eat the carriers, which causes them to accumulate toxoplasmosis pathogens in their tissues, where they multiply. Other mammals, including humans, can become infected with toxoplasmosis by ingesting food containing cysts. This may occur in the following situations:

• Eating unwashed vegetables, fruits, insufficiently processed animal meat and other foods that contain cysts.
• When drinking water contaminated with cat feces.
• Through blood transfusion.
• During organ transplantation.
• Through the placenta from mother to fetus.

Signs of illness

According to statistics, Toxoplasma gondii is present in the body of 30 - 50% of the population of our planet. The percentage depends on the country, and the indicators of industrialized countries are no exception.

True, the microorganism does not always cause toxoplasmosis: a person may well be a carrier of the infection for the rest of his life, but the disease will not appear. It is interesting that one of the highest percentages of cases of toxoplasmosis in relation to the number of carriers is France - 84% (perhaps these figures are due to the fact that the French take better care of their health and get tested more often).

Toxoplasma gondii, once in the human body, causes mild symptoms similar to a cold during the first weeks. The development of infection in people with normal immunity occurs latently, without visible symptoms. True, latent infection is sometimes accompanied by strange and inexplicable actions and changes in people’s behavior. For example, a person becomes more risky and less afraid, although reactions slow down.

In people with weak immunity, as well as immunodeficiency, infection with Toxoplasma gondii leads to the development of toxoplasmosis. The symptoms of the disease are as follows:

• general malaise;
• pain in muscles and joints for several weeks or even months;
• measles-like rash.

Pneumonia, hepatitis, myocarditis, kidney problems, meningitis and other serious illnesses may occur. Meningoencephalitis often occurs, when it paralyzes the limbs, convulsions occur, problems with coordination and eyes. There may be disturbances of consciousness, memory loss, or spatial orientation.

The acute phase is accompanied by symptoms such as high fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes and other manifestations. In the chronic stage, nervousness, memory loss, bloating, constipation, and nausea are possible. Endocrine disorders, problems with blood vessels, etc. are observed.

Congenital toxoplasmosis, which a child received from his mother during pregnancy, is extremely dangerous for him. This means that the fetus often dies in the womb due to various developmental defects. If the baby manages to survive, he often lags behind in mental development, and various mental disorders are observed. Previously, the prognosis for the life and health of such children was unfavorable, but recently medications have appeared that can cope with the disease. But treatment must be started as early as possible. That is why the mother’s amniotic fluid can be analyzed immediately after the birth of the baby.

Immune response

Some of the most commonly used blood tests for toxoplasmosis are the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies using IFA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) tests and serological tests. It is possible to determine whether these antibodies have deviated from the norm in many commercial laboratories.

An IgG test must be taken to determine the immune status, which is compared with the norm. Positive IgG titers indicate that the body has been infected with the organism, and may indicate that it has already been cured. Interpretation of IgM test data depends on the decoding of IgG indicators, since tests for toxoplasmosis when testing patients for IgM antibodies do not provide sufficiently reliable results.

The most common situations are:

In the first case, positive IgM/negative IgG should be treated with great caution. Therefore, an antibody test will need to be taken in two weeks and the data obtained will again be compared with the norm. If the first blood test for toxoplasmosis does not match the subsequent one, this means that the IgM is considered false positive and the patient is considered uninfected. If the analysis is confirmed, additional diagnostics are necessary.

Testing for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy with positive IgG/IgM includes an IgG avidity test. This is the name of a study aimed at determining the strength of the connection of antibodies with antigens.

If the transcript shows high avidity in the first 12-16 weeks of pregnancy, this means that with a high degree of reliability we can say that there is no danger to the baby. Low IgG avidity indicates recent infection because low IgG persists for several months after infection. Therefore, there may be a threat to the fetus.

Toxocariasis, which is caused byToxocara canisAndToxocara, can cause blindness and provoke rheumatic, neurological and asthmatic symptoms, depending on which tissues of the body the larvae migrate to. Infection with toxocariasis occurs by ingesting eggs with fully developed larvae from various sources (soil, unwashed foods, animal carriers of eggs). Intermediate carriers of toxocariasis can be people, birds, pigs, rodents, goats, monkeys and rabbits. It should be noted that Toxocara larvae never mature in the body of the carrier.

As a reaction to toxocariasis, the body produces IgG antibodies, which are divided into four classes. IgG-4 is a specific isotype of IgG that is detected in tests in the presence of toxocariasis. Antibodies of this class are the most accurate indicator of toxocariasis infection. If the transcript of the analysis confirms negative results, the patient will need to take several more tests for toxocariasis, based on the results of which treatment will be prescribed.

Immunoglobulin G indicates long-term circulation of antibodies in the blood plasma. The absence of IgM antibodies and the presence of G glycoproteins is considered a favorable result - a sign that the body has already encountered Toxoplasma and has developed immunity to it, which protects against re-infection.

In this analysis, the ability of IgG antibodies to protect the child who is in the womb is considered positive. Glycoproteins create protection for the woman and the unborn child.

Important! The presence of G antibodies without the presence of other antibodies to the pathogen is considered safe for the fetus and does not require treatment.

When tests show positive IgM along with IgG antibodies, two options are considered:

• a sign of primary infection, which lasts for about a month;
• reactivation of toxoplasmosis (extremely rare).

In this case, it is necessary to determine avidity (the strength of the bond between antigen and antibody), the risk to humans.

If the tests indicate IgM is positive and IgG is negative, this is a sign of primary infection, with laboratory error excluded. In this case, the risk for humans is not high, since after some time, under the influence of antibodies, the body will begin to produce IgG markers.

If the patient has acute symptoms, antibiotics are prescribed, which can affect intracellular microorganisms.

Important! In this case, the therapy is quite simple, aimed at alleviating symptoms and accelerating the reactions of the immune system.

Reactivation of Toxoplasma is rare. This may be due to a weakened immune system due to a combination of stress with systemic diseases, or taking medications that weaken the body’s protective functions.

To eliminate this condition, wait-and-see tactics are used - the body must cope with the infection itself. In the presence of complications and inflammatory processes, it is necessary to use medicinal methods. The use of glucocorticosteroids is prohibited; immunostimulants and antiprotozoal drugs are used.

Important! The situation is considered difficult in the presence of positive IgM and the absence of other markers during pregnancy.

What if IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma are not detected?

If the body's IgG level is positive, it means that the immune system has already fought the pathogen and the likelihood of protection from secondary infection increases. However, such an analysis may indicate a recent primary infection.

To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor needs to analyze IgM indicators - they appear only during an exacerbation of the disease. If their indicator is positive, it means the person was recently infected. If IgM is negative, there is no infection and there is no danger.

If both antibody readings are positive, there is a serious risk to the health of the fetus.

If the IgG test results are negative (they are absent in the body), the person must adhere to preventive measures to protect against infection, especially during pregnancy.

This analysis indicates that the body does not have antibodies that provide protection against toxoplasmosis.

IgG avidity to Toxoplasma

What does IgM mean for toxoplasma?

When the body encounters an infection, IgM antibodies begin to be produced in the blood, followed by IgG after some time. During primary infection, IgM antibodies are positive and IgG antibodies are negative. With negative IgM and positive IgG levels, we can talk about developed immunity to Toxoplasma.

IgG antibodies to toxoplasma during pregnancy

The immune system of an adult is able to cope with the infection on its own, but the fetus does not yet have full protection, so it is susceptible to infection.

Toxoplasmosis leads to the development of various pathologies of the unborn child:

• thrombocytopenia;
• hydrocephalus, microcephaly;
• chorioretinitis;
• calcification;
• liver diseases;
• weak intrauterine development, lack of development after childbirth;
• inflammation of the eyes, which ends in anophthalmia.

Important! Treatment of primary toxoplasmosis or reactivation during pregnancy is possible only from the second trimester.

In 10-15% of cases, the lack of treatment for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy ends in premature birth and fetal death. The most dangerous exposure to infection is considered to be in the first trimester - during this period the development of all organs begins. If infection occurs during this period, doctors prescribe termination of pregnancy.

Therapy of toxoplasma requires an integrated approach using increased dosages of folic acid (5 mg per day). This approach reduces the negative effects of medications and eliminates disorders of the nervous system, which suffers from pathogens and medications.

Where to get tested in Moscow

You can get tested for toxoplasmosis at:

• Moscow, st. Kashirskaya metro station, st. Moskvorechye 1. in the medical laboratory of genetic engineering systems "LAGIS".
• Moscow, Yeniseiskaya 37 in the clinical diagnostic laboratory “KDL”.

Avoiding infections is quite simple; you just need to adhere to basic hygiene rules, regularly visit a medical facility to check your general health and get tested for various pathogens.

When planning a pregnancy, you must undergo all the necessary tests, because toxoplasmosis negatively affects the development of the fetus.

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Toxoplasmosis is a “disease of the hands”, since the most common method of transmission of protozoa is oral. At the same time, cases of infection through blood transfusions and from a recently infected mother to her child through the placenta cannot be excluded.

Primary infection of a pregnant woman with toxoplasmosis in the vast majority of cases leads to infection of the fetus with the risk of developing severe pathologies and antenatal death. The detection of certain markers in the expectant mother can be regarded as an indication for termination of pregnancy.

In fact, for a person to become infected, several conditions must be met:

1. Having an infected cat.
2. The cat defecates in a tray, which is cleaned less often than once every two days.
3. Uncollected animal feces are kept in the open air at temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius - optimal for the continued development of Toxoplasma oocysts.
4. Oocysts eventually reach humans through the oral route, for example, when the cat's litter box is eventually removed but the owner's hands are not disinfected in a timely manner.

Oocysts are a form of fertilized protozoan capable of infecting humans.

In fact, oocysts in cat feces in the open air must continue to develop for several more hours in certain conditions convenient for them, and after some time a person must come into contact with them. It is impossible to become infected by hugging a cat, sleeping together, or even kissing. If you follow the rules of general hygiene and pay attention to your animal, the risk of infection is still small. However, to maintain overall safety, it is also recommended to wash vegetables and fruits and cook raw meat in case they contain protozoa.

Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis

Usually, immunoglobulins of class M and G can be detected in venous blood, which are used to make a further prognosis.

Toxoplasmosis: IgG positive

Immunoglobulin class G indicates the presence of long-circulating antibodies in the blood plasma. The presence of glycoproteins of this class in the absence of IgM antibodies is considered favorable and means that in the past there was contact with Toxoplasma, immunity to them was independently developed, which will now protect the person from re-infection.

The most positive point regarding this analysis result is the ability of the existing IgG antibodies to protect the child in the womb, since these glycoproteins pass through the placental barrier and act as protective elements for both the woman herself and her fetus.

The presence of IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma in the absence of other antibodies to the pathogen does not require treatment, and is also absolutely safe for the embryo.

If the test results, in addition to IgG, indicate a positive IgM marker, then in this case we can talk about either reactivation of toxoplasmosis, which is extremely rare, or about a primary infection up to 1 month ago. The prognosis in this case is ambiguous, and then it is recommended to determine avidity - the ratio of immunoglobulins with clarification of the risk for humans. With reactivation, there is a risk, but it is less than with the primary lesion.

What to do if IgM is positive

With positive IgM and negative IgG, we can definitely talk about a primary infection, if a laboratory error is excluded. In this case, for an ordinary person the risk is small - soon the infection should be leveled out under the influence of existing antibodies, where they will subsequently be replaced by IgG antibodies. In difficult cases - in the presence of acute symptoms - treatment with antibiotics that can affect intracellular microorganisms may be prescribed. The treatment is simple, quickly reducing symptoms and accelerating the body's immune response.

Reactivation of infection is extremely rare; the main reason for its occurrence is a strong decrease in immunity due to stress and a combination of other systemic diseases, as well as taking drugs that can suppress the body’s protective functions. The priority tactic is to wait and see, as the body must cope on its own. But in the presence of complications - general intoxication, myositis, myocarditis, meningoencephalitis and similar inflammatory lesions - the use of drugs is required. Glucocorticosteroids are canceled, immunostimulants and, possibly, antiprotozoal agents are prescribed.

The presence of IgM antibodies with a negative indicator of others during pregnancy is a complex situation, directly dependent on the gestational age and the timeliness of diagnosing toxoplasmosis.

Video - Toxoplasmosis: signs, symptoms, treatment

Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy

• eye damage, starting from inflammatory processes, ends with anophthalmia;
• intrauterine growth restriction or developmental delays several years after birth;
• hydrocephalus, microcephaly;
• thrombocytopenia;
• chorioretinitis;
• calcification;
• liver damage.

Treatment of pregnant women with primary infection with toxoplasma or reactivation of the pathogen is carried out no earlier than the 2nd trimester. Drugs based on sulfonamides and pyrimethamine are used, as well as macrolide antibiotics with intracellular activity, where spiramycin is the leader against Toxoplasma gondii. It is possible to use a macrolide such as vilprafen or josamycin for up to 10 days.

Approximately 10-15% of pregnancies with untreated toxoplasmosis end in fetal death or premature birth. The most destructive infection is considered to be the first trimester during the formation of all organs, so damage to a large number of cells and organs often makes them incompatible with the normal life of the child. In case of primary infection in the first trimester, termination of pregnancy is always recommended.

Treatment of toxoplasma requires the use of folic acid in an increased dosage of up to 5 mg per day to reduce the risk of side effects from drugs and eliminate defects in the nervous system, which suffers from both the drugs and the infectious agent.

The risk of a child contracting toxoplasmosis, rather than the development of anomalies from intracellular infection, grows with each trimester, and a variety of organic disorders are possible:

At the same time, infection in the second and third trimester leads not only to organic damage to the fetus, but also to the appearance of a dire diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in newborns.

Toxoplasmosis of newborns manifests itself during the first three years of life. Symptoms are varied - from prolonged jaundice to acute organic and neurological damage. The hematopoietic system and meninges are affected. The liver does not perform its functions properly in comparison with healthy children of the same age.

At the same time, timely diagnosis and timely prescribed treatment makes it possible to stop the development of severe complications and avoid toxoplasmosis in the true manifestation of this disease. Therapy can reduce the risks that increase during infection by 60%, which is undoubtedly a huge prognostic plus for women expecting a long-awaited pregnancy.

Treatment and prevention

Compliance with basic hygiene requirements - washing hands before eating, handling fresh vegetables and fruits, avoiding undercooked meat in the diet, caring for pets - is the most important in preventing infection with protozoal microorganisms. Getting rid of cats during pregnancy is a completely unnecessary measure; you just need to monitor your pet’s litter box and avoid contact with ownerless, potentially dangerous animals.

If Toxoplasma infection is confirmed, it is permissible to let the body cope with the infection on its own or to help with medication - the choice of technique directly depends on the patient’s situation (the state of his immunity, the presence of chronic diseases, age, pregnancy, gestational age). The drugs of choice are immunostimulants, antiprotozoal, antibacterial drugs that can affect microorganisms with such a development cycle.

Infection with protozoa is not difficult to avoid if basic precautions are not neglected. Observation of the clinical state of health and timely screening for infections, especially in preparation for pregnancy and in specially designated periods during it, will allow you to give birth to a healthy child without intrauterine anomalies and lesions.

How does Toxoplasma enter the human body?

Toxoplasma has several forms of development, each of which is found in certain materials: for example, in cat feces, food products, human blood, human organs, etc.

Thus, human infection with Toxoplasma occurs under various conditions:

Eating meat from infected animals that has not undergone sufficient heat treatment (for example, pork, lamb). Eating any food contaminated with cat feces, as well as insufficient personal hygiene after cleaning cat litter. Blood transfusions from people infected with toxoplasma. Organ transplantation from people infected with toxoplasma. Transmission of Toxoplasma from a pregnant woman to the fetus through the placenta.

Symptoms and signs of toxoplasmosis

As a rule, after healthy adults (who do not have other diseases) are infected with toxoplasma, the symptoms of toxoplasmosis are invisible. The disease is more severe in children infected during fetal development and in people whose immune systems are weakened by AIDS, cancer, taking medications that suppress the immune system, etc. There are several main forms of toxoplasmosis: acute toxoplasmosis, toxoplasmosis of the central nervous system, congenital toxoplasmosis, ocular toxoplasmosis, common toxoplasmosis.

Acute toxoplasmosis

Acute toxoplasmosis in adults who do not suffer from other diseases is usually asymptomatic.

However, in rare cases, the following symptoms may appear:

An increase in the size of the axillary lymph nodes is the most common sign of toxoplasmosis. Enlarged lymph nodes are palpable as round, dense formations in the axillary region. There may be an increase in other groups of lymph nodes (cervical, submandibular, inguinal, etc.) Increase in body temperature to 38-39C. Weakness, muscle pain. An increase in the size of the liver and/or spleen, which is manifested by a dull pain in the right side (in the right hypochondrium). Often the disease occurs unnoticed by the patient and goes away on its own without treatment within one to two weeks.

Cerebral toxoplasmosis (toxoplasmosis of the brain)

Cerebral toxoplasmosis is a form of toxoplasmosis that occurs with inflammation of the brain. In persons whose immunity is weakened by AIDS and other diseases, toxoplasma is deposited in the nervous system, leading to the appearance of characteristic symptoms: Severe weakness, headaches. Increased body temperature. Loss of sensation in various areas of the body. Feeling of “goosebumps” running throughout the body. Paralysis is the inability to move certain parts of the body. Coma is a complete, persistent loss of consciousness.

Ocular toxoplasmosis

The ocular form of toxoplasmosis, as a rule, is a consequence of congenital toxoplasmosis with late manifestations (in adolescents and young adults). The main symptoms of ocular toxoplasmosis are: Pain in the eyes. Decreased visual acuity. "Fog" before the eyes. Feeling of “flashes” before the eyes. Blindness.

Common toxoplasmosis

A common form of toxoplasmosis without damage to the eyes and brain, as a rule, develops in people with very weak immunity (late stages of AIDS, after long courses of chemotherapy, etc.) The manifestations of this form of toxoplasmosis are different, as they are caused by inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) , lungs (pneumonia), muscles (myositis), etc. Inflamed organs may stop functioning, which threatens the patient's life.

Congenital toxoplasmosis

Congenital toxoplasmosis develops as a result of transmission of infection from mother to fetus through the placenta during pregnancy. Intrauterine infection of the fetus with toxoplasmosis can cause spontaneous miscarriage, intrauterine fetal death, etc. Children with congenital toxoplasmosis (infected from the mother during pregnancy) suffer severely from the disease and often die soon after birth. In some cases, the symptoms of congenital toxoplasmosis are subtle and appear at a later age.

So, the main symptoms of congenital toxoplasmosis in newborns are:

Inflammation of the eyes (chorioretinitis - inflammation of the retina and its small vessels), which can lead to blindness. Symptoms of chorioretinitis, as a rule, are invisible to the naked eye, since due to the child’s young age, he does not complain. Deafness. Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin of the body, sclera of the eyes, and mucous membranes of the mouth. The appearance of a rash on the skin in the form of reddish nodules. Increased size of the liver and spleen. Disproportionately large or, conversely, small size of the newborn’s head. Delayed psychomotor development of the child.

Toxoplasmosis and pregnancy

Doctors pay special attention to toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. The risk of transmission of Toxoplasma from mother to fetus is high if a woman becomes infected during pregnancy. The time of infection of a pregnant woman with toxoplasmosis is also important: infection in the first trimester has more severe consequences (including miscarriage) than infection in the third trimester of pregnancy. If a woman had toxoplasmosis before conceiving a child, the risk of infection of the fetus is minimal.

Can a baby become infected with toxoplasmosis while breastfeeding?

In cases where, at the time of breastfeeding, the nursing mother does not suffer from active toxoplasmosis, infection of the child through breast milk is practically excluded. In extremely rare cases, infection can occur due to the presence of bleeding cracks and erosions on the nipples of a woman in the blood in which toxoplasma circulates (active, acute toxoplasmosis). In all other cases, when only signs of previous toxoplasmosis are found in the blood of a nursing mother, breastfeeding can be carried out without any fear.

Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis

Thus:

IgM are antibodies that appear soon after infection and indicate acute infection.
IgG are antibodies that appear later and indicate recovery from toxoplasmosis (or chronic infection). The avidity of antibodies indicates their ability to reliably bind antigen and indicates how old the infection is. In this article, we do not provide exact values ​​for acceptable and excessive levels of IgM and IgG, since they differ in different laboratories. The final interpretation of a toxoplasmosis test can only be made by a physician familiar with the patient's medical history and the reference values ​​used in the laboratory that performed the test.

Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and newborns

As mentioned above, the most severe forms of toxoplasmosis occur in children who became infected from their mother during fetal development. Thus, the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is of greatest importance during pregnancy. If a pregnant woman has IgM and IgG antibodies in her blood, it is recommended to do an IgG avidity test. High IgG avidity (usually more than 40%) at 12-14 weeks of pregnancy virtually eliminates the possibility of infection during pregnancy (and, accordingly, the likelihood of infection of the fetus). However, low antibody avidity is not yet an indicator of a recent infection - in this case, after 2-3 weeks, the test is repeated and the amount of antibodies has increased (antibody titer). To find out whether the infection has been transmitted from a pregnant woman to the fetus, amniotic fluid is often analyzed for the presence of Toxoplasma DNA - a diagnostic method called polymerase chain reaction (PCR). If the PCR is negative, the fetus is completely healthy.

To clarify the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis and determine the extent of infection, additional examinations are carried out:

Instrumental diagnostic methods include many methods to identify manifestations of toxoplasmosis. So, if there are symptoms of damage to the central nervous system (brain), a computed tomography scan or magnetic nuclear resonance is done, which makes it possible to identify foci of brain inflammation caused by toxoplasma. A biopsy, the removal of a piece of tissue infected with Toxoplasma for examination under a microscope, is rarely used.

Treatment of toxoplasmosis

Most adults, previously healthy people do not need special treatment for toxoplasmosis, since their immune system is able to defeat the infection on its own. Treatment of toxoplasmosis is necessary in the case of pregnant women, children with congenital toxoplasmosis, and also in the case of a person with a weakened immune system.

The following medications are used in the treatment of toxoplasmosis:

Pyrimethamine (Daraprim) comes in tablet form and is usually used in combination with another medicine, Sulfadiazine. The dosages of these medications are determined by the attending physician. The duration of treatment is usually up to 4 weeks. Clindamycin is also used in the treatment of toxoplasmosis in combination with Pyrimethamine (Daraprim). Prednisolone (or other corticosteroids) is used to treat chorioretinitis (inflammation of the eyes). Spiramycin is a medicine that is used to treat pregnant women who become infected with toxoplasmosis after conception. Spiramycin reduces the risk of transmission of infection to the fetus. Doses and medications are determined by the attending physician!

Prevention of toxoplasmosis

Pregnant women are advised to avoid contact with cats. If it is impossible to avoid contact with cats for certain reasons, it is recommended to exclude the possibility of contact with cat feces (do not clean the cat litter), as well as with the ground. Meat eaten by a pregnant woman must undergo adequate cooking (at a temperature of at least 74-77°C). Pregnant women must observe personal hygiene rules (washing hands before and after preparing food, before and after visiting the toilet, etc.).

9 questions about toxoplasmosis

“You need to donate blood for IUI…” All expectant mothers hear this phrase sooner or later during their next appointment with the gynecologist. And the question immediately arises: “What is this? What is this secret letter combination? IUI is what doctors call intrauterine infections for short. And blood is taken from pregnant women just to determine whether this attack threatens the baby.

There are quite a few diseases that can undermine a baby’s health even before birth. IUI includes rubella, cytomegalovirus infection, herpes, listeriosis, syphilis, toxoplasmosis, chlamydia, and a whole range of other ailments. Let's talk about toxoplasmosis.

2. In what cases can the disease develop?
During pregnancy, about 1% of women become infected with Toxoplasma. Of these, only 1/4-1/5 transmit the infection to the fetus (through the placenta). It must be remembered that the likelihood of having a sick baby appears only when the mother gets sick while she is pregnant. And the later this happened, the more likely it is that the child will be born sick.

3. How common is the disease?
Toxoplasmosis is widespread. In response to the introduction of the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, antibodies are produced - immunoglobulins (special protein substances). So, 10% of children under 10 years old have antibodies to toxoplasma. In addition, half of adults will also have these antibodies. A sick person does not secrete the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, so he cannot infect anyone.

4. When do the most severe fetal lesions develop?
If a mother becomes infected with toxoplasmosis at the beginning of pregnancy, the consequences will most likely be very sad. Therefore, the most complex and severe lesions can occur in a baby when infected with Toxoplasma in the first three months of intrauterine life. But it is during this period that the probability of infection is the lowest. And the severity of the disease is determined primarily by the lack of protection systems in the embryo.

5. How does the disease progress in the expectant mother?
The disease in the expectant mother is most often asymptomatic. And the presence of the disease can only be determined in the laboratory by the presence or absence of antibodies to Toxoplasma. But, nevertheless, a number of specific signs or symptoms of the disease exist.

In the chronic form of toxoplasmosis, low temperature (up to 37.5°C), enlarged lymph nodes, weakness, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, headaches, muscle pain, and so on may persist for a long time.

If the disease occurs in an acute form, then the symptoms of the disease will be even more severe - up to brain damage. But there are a number of points that inspire optimism. The child will not get sick if:

• the woman was infected more than 3 months before pregnancy;
• the first child was born with congenital toxoplasmosis;
• the expectant mother is sick with chronic manifest toxoplasmosis.

6. How does the disease progress in a baby?
Congenital toxoplasmosis in a baby most often causes severe consequences. Children suffer from intoxication, paralysis, and rashes. The functioning of all internal organs is disrupted. However, in most cases, approximately 60% of children infected in the womb are born without external signs of the disease. The fact that a child has suffered toxoplasmosis will only be indicated by antibodies to toxoplasma in the blood.

7. How can you determine the presence of a disease?
In toxoplasmosis, the presence of the disease can be determined by identifying specific antibodies to the pathogen in the blood in the laboratory. For this purpose, expectant mothers donate blood for intrauterine infections (IUI). With a “fresh” infection with toxoplasmosis, class M immunoglobulin antibodies are determined in the blood; they appear 1-2 weeks from the moment of infection. If the infection is chronic, then immunoglobulin class G antibodies are detected. They appear in the blood 1-2 months after infection and can be detected in the laboratory for many years.

8. How to treat?
Treatment is prescribed only by a doctor! It is known that correct and timely drug intervention reduces the possibility of developing the disease by 2 times. A pregnant woman is prescribed specially selected antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs in cycles of 5 days. With proper treatment, 77% of children with acute toxoplasmosis are born without signs of the disease. And only 5% of babies may show any signs of illness.

9. How to prevent disease?
Preventing infection during pregnancy is not as difficult as it might seem. First of all, avoid contact with other people’s cats, and be sure to take yours to the veterinarian. Vaccination will not harm her, but will protect you. Never try raw minced meat. Be sure to wash your hands before eating. Always remember that cleanliness is the key to health! In addition, do not be lazy, and be re-examined for toxoplasmosis once every 2-3 months. This will prevent accidental infection. For greater reliability, it is better to always take tests in the same laboratory.

P.S This article is not a reason for self-medication and does not cancel a trip to the doctor. Good health to everyone!