Recommendations for the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Gestational and Congenital Toxoplasmosis in Brazil

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. It presents severity in patients of certain risk groups, such as pregnant women, fetuses, newborns, and immunocompromised patients. The diagnosis of gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis still poses doubts among healthcare pr...

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Main Authors: Lara Ferreiro Cassemiro, Igor Rosa Meurer, Karolayne Helena Capistrano Andrade, Lauren Hubert Jaeger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Estadual de Maringá 2025-04-01
Series:Acta Scientiarum. Health Sciences
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Online Access:https://periodicos.uem.br/ojs/index.php/ActaSciHealthSci/article/view/67311
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author Lara Ferreiro Cassemiro
Igor Rosa Meurer
Karolayne Helena Capistrano Andrade
Lauren Hubert Jaeger
author_facet Lara Ferreiro Cassemiro
Igor Rosa Meurer
Karolayne Helena Capistrano Andrade
Lauren Hubert Jaeger
author_sort Lara Ferreiro Cassemiro
collection DOAJ
description Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. It presents severity in patients of certain risk groups, such as pregnant women, fetuses, newborns, and immunocompromised patients. The diagnosis of gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis still poses doubts among healthcare professionals. To perform an analysis of Brazilian official documents with recommendations regarding the diagnosis, treatment, and management of gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis in the country. Official manuals published up to 10 years ago were included in the analysis. Through the analysis of five manuals, it was possible to verify that the diagnosis of gestational toxoplasmosis is primarily performed through immunological tests, with the anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG avidity test being the best choice for confirming acute disease in pregnant women. For the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis, the most indicated diagnostic tools are the detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG antibodies and computed tomography for newborns, and Polymerase Chain Reaction of amniotic fluid during gestation. There is a consensus regarding the treatment and management of gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis in the studied manuals, with spiramycin and pyrimethamine being the drugs of choice for the treatment of pregnant women and newborns, respectively. It is noteworthy that all recommended drugs are available in the Unified Health System (SUS). However, there is still no drug with suitable pharmaceutical presentation for administration in newborns. In this context, prophylaxis is essential for reducing the occurrence of the disease in pregnant women, through proper hygiene and cooking of raw food.
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spelling doaj-art-c353f04cfbe6420489a19eb86e9cbf102025-08-20T03:10:24ZengUniversidade Estadual de MaringáActa Scientiarum. Health Sciences1679-92911807-86482025-04-0147110.4025/actascihealthsci.v47i1.67311Recommendations for the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Gestational and Congenital Toxoplasmosis in BrazilLara Ferreiro Cassemiro0Igor Rosa Meurer1Karolayne Helena Capistrano Andrade2Lauren Hubert Jaeger3Universidade Federal de Juiz de ForaUniversidade Federal de Juiz de ForaUniversidade Federal de Juiz de ForaUniversidade Federal de Juiz de Fora Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. It presents severity in patients of certain risk groups, such as pregnant women, fetuses, newborns, and immunocompromised patients. The diagnosis of gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis still poses doubts among healthcare professionals. To perform an analysis of Brazilian official documents with recommendations regarding the diagnosis, treatment, and management of gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis in the country. Official manuals published up to 10 years ago were included in the analysis. Through the analysis of five manuals, it was possible to verify that the diagnosis of gestational toxoplasmosis is primarily performed through immunological tests, with the anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG avidity test being the best choice for confirming acute disease in pregnant women. For the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis, the most indicated diagnostic tools are the detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG antibodies and computed tomography for newborns, and Polymerase Chain Reaction of amniotic fluid during gestation. There is a consensus regarding the treatment and management of gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis in the studied manuals, with spiramycin and pyrimethamine being the drugs of choice for the treatment of pregnant women and newborns, respectively. It is noteworthy that all recommended drugs are available in the Unified Health System (SUS). However, there is still no drug with suitable pharmaceutical presentation for administration in newborns. In this context, prophylaxis is essential for reducing the occurrence of the disease in pregnant women, through proper hygiene and cooking of raw food. https://periodicos.uem.br/ojs/index.php/ActaSciHealthSci/article/view/67311Gestational toxoplasmosis;congenital toxoplasmosis; laboratory diagnosis; pharmacological treatment.
spellingShingle Lara Ferreiro Cassemiro
Igor Rosa Meurer
Karolayne Helena Capistrano Andrade
Lauren Hubert Jaeger
Recommendations for the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Gestational and Congenital Toxoplasmosis in Brazil
Acta Scientiarum. Health Sciences
Gestational toxoplasmosis;congenital toxoplasmosis; laboratory diagnosis; pharmacological treatment.
title Recommendations for the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Gestational and Congenital Toxoplasmosis in Brazil
title_full Recommendations for the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Gestational and Congenital Toxoplasmosis in Brazil
title_fullStr Recommendations for the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Gestational and Congenital Toxoplasmosis in Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Recommendations for the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Gestational and Congenital Toxoplasmosis in Brazil
title_short Recommendations for the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Gestational and Congenital Toxoplasmosis in Brazil
title_sort recommendations for the diagnosis treatment and management of gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis in brazil
topic Gestational toxoplasmosis;congenital toxoplasmosis; laboratory diagnosis; pharmacological treatment.
url https://periodicos.uem.br/ojs/index.php/ActaSciHealthSci/article/view/67311
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AT karolaynehelenacapistranoandrade recommendationsforthediagnosistreatmentandmanagementofgestationalandcongenitaltoxoplasmosisinbrazil
AT laurenhubertjaeger recommendationsforthediagnosistreatmentandmanagementofgestationalandcongenitaltoxoplasmosisinbrazil