Report of an unsual case of anophthalmia and craniofacial cleft in a newborn with Toxoplasma gondii congenital infection

BMC Infect Dis. 2017 Jul 3;17(1):459. doi: 10.1186/s12879-017-2565-8.

Abstract

Background: We present one unusual case of anophthalmia and craniofacial cleft, probably due to congenital toxoplasmosis only.

Case presentation: A two-month-old male had a twin in utero who disappeared between the 7th and the 14th week of gestation. At birth, the baby presented anophthalmia and craniofacial cleft, and no sign compatible with genetic or exposition/deficiency problems, like the Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome or maternal vitamin A deficiency. Congenital toxoplasmosis was confirmed by the presence of IgM abs and IgG neo-antibodies in western blot, as well as by real time PCR in blood. CMV infection was also discarded by PCR and IgM negative results. Structures suggestive of T. gondii pseudocysts were observed in a biopsy taken during the first functional/esthetic surgery.

Conclusions: We conclude that this is a rare case of anophthalmia combined with craniofacial cleft due to congenital toxoplasmosis, that must be considered by physicians. This has not been reported before.

Keywords: Anophthalmia; Case report; Congenital toxoplasmosis; Craniofacial cleft; Toxoplasma gondii.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anophthalmos / parasitology*
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Mouth Abnormalities / diagnostic imaging
  • Mouth Abnormalities / parasitology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pyrimethamine / therapeutic use
  • Toxoplasma / pathogenicity
  • Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / complications*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / diagnostic imaging
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal

Substances

  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Pyrimethamine