Congenital toxoplasmosis: modern approaches to diagnosis

Congenital toxoplasmosis is a widespread classical intrauterine infection. The transmission of T. gondii to the fetus occurs from a mother who became infected with the parasite during pregnancy. The purpose of the article is once again to draw the attention of obstetricians and gynecologists, neonatologists, pediatricians, parasitologists and other specialists to the problem of congenital toxoplasmosis. The review provides modern ideas about the features and mechanisms of transmission of T. gondii to the fetus during pregnancy; the stages of development of congenital toxoplasmosis and its clinical classification. The severity of clinical symptoms of the disease in the perinatal, neonatal and postnatal periods and treatment tactics of a child with congenital toxoplasmosis are discussed. A detailed analysis is given according to indications for laboratory examination for congenital toxoplasmosis, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the disease, including methods of laboratory diagnosis for the detection of antibodies – immunoglobulins M, G, A. K. T. gondii, DNA of the parasite. The importance of instrumental methods is also characterized: MRI, ultrasound, CT, etc. in confirming the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. It is concluded that it is necessary to familiarize medical workers with the methods of clinical and laboratory diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis, which will help timely detection, therapy and prevention of the disease. The importance of long-term monitoring of T. gondii-infected children is shown.

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