Low incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis in children born to women infected with human immunodeficiency virus

C. Giaquinto, I. Grosch-Wörner, Jacqui Mok, F. Omeñaca Teres, R. Martinez-Zapico, I. Bates, F. Hawkins, C. A. Canosa, H. Scherpbier, A. B. Bohlin, M. Forsgren, J. Levy, A. Alimenti, A. Ferrazin, A. De Maria, C. Gotta, A. Mûr, David Dunn, Marie Louise Newell, Ruth GilbertEskild Petersen, Catherine Peckham

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In children born to immunocompetent women, congenital toxoplasmosis almost always results from primary infection during pregnancy. However, reactivation of latent toxoplasmosis during pregnancy could occur in HIV-infected pregnant women, particularly in those who are severely immunocompromised, and result in maternal-fetal transmission of the parasite. This mode of infection has been described in case reports but the risk of transmission is unknown. Findings on toxoplasmosis are presented from the European Collaborative Study, a prospective study of children born to women known to be HIV-infected at the time of delivery. In 1058 children followed for a mean duration of 35 months, only one child developed clinical toxoplasmosis. This child was HIV-infected, severely immunocompromised, and acquired toxop]asmosis postnatally. Congenital infection was excluded serologically in a subgroup of 167 children, of whom an estimated 71 had been at risk of infection. These clinical and serological findings indicate a low general risk of maternal-fetal transmission of Toxoplasma infection in HIV-infected women. It is not possible to draw conclusions about the risk of transmission for severely immunocompromised HIV-infected women because most women in the study were asymptomatic.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)93-96
Number of pages4
JournalEuropean Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Volume68
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 1996

Keywords

  • Congenital toxoplasmosis
  • HIV infection
  • Prophylaxis
  • Reactivation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology
  • Reproductive Medicine

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