The vertical transmission rate ranges from 15% in the first trimester to 60% in the third trimester of pregnancy. Most infected fetuses and newborns are asymptomatic. Those that have symptoms usually have the classic trias of retinochoroiditis, hydrocephalus and intracraniac calcifications. Interestingly retinochorioiditis can manifest months or years after birth (RKI, 2016).
In prenatal series the presence of ventriculomegaly along with multiple echogenic nodules is characteristic of severe fetal toxoplasmosis and this carries a poor prognosis (Malinger et al, 2011).
Below our case of a congenital toxoplasmosis at term. The ultrasound examination of the patient, who presented with uterine contractions, demonstrated ventriculomegaly and multiple echogenic nodules. After delivery the classic trias was evident.
Bibliography
- Robert Koch Institut. “Toxoplasmose.” RKI-Ratgeber – Toxoplasmose, 2016, http://www.rki.de/DE/Content/Infekt/EpidBull/Merkblaetter/Ratgeber_Toxoplasmose.html#doc2390224bodyText9.
- Malinger, G. , Werner, H. , Rodriguez Leonel, J. C., Rebolledo, M. , Duque, M. , Mizyrycki, S. , Lerman‐Sagie, T. and Herrera, M. (2011), Prenatal brain imaging in congenital toxoplasmosis. Prenat. Diagn., 31: 881-886. doi:10.1002/pd.2795
Gynaecologia 