Real-time PCR in the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis

Braz J Infect Dis. 2023 Sep 21:102804. doi: 10.1016/j.bjid.2023.102804. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis presents limitations and therefore new options are necessary. The analysis of amniotic fluid by real-time PCR has already proved effective for confirmation of fetal infection. However, its performance in other biological samples is not clear yet. The aim of this study is to better understand the role of real-time PCR in the blood of the mother and newborn as well as in the amniotic fluid and placenta in the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis. This is a descriptive cohort study of pregnant women with toxoplasmosis followed up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Real-time PCR was performed in samples of maternal blood, amniotic fluid, placenta, and blood of newborns. In addition, histopathological examination of placentas was performed, and data collected from babies were collected. 116 pregnant women were followed up and 298 samples were analyzed. One (0.9%) pregnant woman presented positive PCR in the blood, 3 (3.5%) in the amniotic fluid, 1 (2.3%) in the placenta and no newborn had positive PCR in the blood. Histopathological study was suggestive of toxoplasmosis infection in 24 (49%) placentas. Six (5.2%) newborns were diagnosed with congenital toxoplasmosis, and only cases with positive PCR in the amniotic fluid had correlation of the PCR result with the diagnosis of congenital infection. Both maternal and blood samples of newborns and p...

Source: Braz J Infect Dis - September 24, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Bianca Balzano De La Fuente Villar Leonardo Henrique Ferreira Gomes Elyzabeth Avvad Portari Carla Nasser Patrocinio Ramos Danielle Nascimento Rocha Jos é Paulo Pereira Junior Elizabeth de Souza Neves Let ícia da Cunha Guida Source Type: research