A case of congenital toxoplasmosis-associated miscarriage with maternal infection four months prior to conception

Parasitol Int. 2020 Dec:79:102165. doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102165. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Abstract

Background: We report a case of fatal congenital toxoplasmosis with maternal infection dated four months before pregnancy in the absence of any specific immunosuppressive condition.

Case: Ms. D. experienced submaxillary lymphadenitis in February 2018. The medical workup performed revealed an acute T. gondii infection. She became pregnant in June 2018 while she still had adenopathy. The second obstetrical ultrasound, performed at 16 weeks of pregnancy, revealed a fetal death. The research for T. gondii by PCR was positive in the products of conception.

Conclusion: Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis should be discussed in case of miscarriage with lymphadenitis. As lymph nodes in T. gondii infection could be responsible for iterative release of parasites and fetal death, symptomatic toxoplasmosis should be treated in women of childbearing age.

Keywords: Congenital toxoplasmosis; Fetal death; Miscarriage; Preconception; Toxoplasma gondii.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous / parasitology*
  • Adult
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / diagnosis*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / parasitology
  • Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / complications
  • Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / diagnosis*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / parasitology