Nursing infant with acquired toxoplasmosis in the first months of life - a case report

• Published in: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo Vol. 59; pp. e63 - 3
• Main Authors: Rezende, Hanstter Hallison Alves, Storchilo, Heloísa Ribeiro, Lima, Jaqueline Ataíde Silva, Gomes, Júnior, Antônio Roberto, Gomes, Taynara Cristina, Souza, Jéssica Yonara de, Avelino, Mariza Martins, Amaral, Waldemar Naves do, Vinaud, Marina Clare, Castro, Ana Maria de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo 01-01-2017; Instituto de Medicina Tropical; Universidade de São Paulo (USP)
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan - blood; Case Report; Diagnostic; Food Contamination; Humans; Immunoglobulin Isotypes - blood; Infant; Male; Meat Products - parasitology; Mice; Nursing infant; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Toxoplasma - immunology; Toxoplasma gondii; Toxoplasmosis - diagnosis; Toxoplasmosis - transmission; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Diagnostic; Toxoplasma gondii; Nursing infant
• ISSN: 0036-4665; 1678-9946; 1678-9946; 0036-4665
• DOI: 10.1590/S1678-9946201759063

Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii and the probability of this infection occurring in the first months of life is usually low because its transmission is related to eating habits. A 6-month-old nursing infant was diagnosed with acute toxoplasmosis, which was identified through anti- T. gondii IgA, IgM and low-avidity IgG serologic assays, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and mouse bioassay test although its mother was seronegative. This serological divergence between mother and child led us to interview the mother regarding epidemiological factors. During this interview, she reported that she had given her 2-month-old baby a piece of undercooked beef to suck on. After some time, the baby presented fever and cervical lymphadenitis. This report emphasizes the importance of serological surveys of toxoplasmosis in nursing infants presenting with fever and lymphadenitis, in view of the possible acquisition of toxoplasmosis in the first months of life.