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Updated: Sep 6, 2025
A Genetic Screen to Isolate Toxoplasma gondii Host-cell Egress Mutants
Published on: February 8, 2012
Congenital toxoplasmosis: Should we still care about screening?
Eskild Petersen1,2, Valeria Meroni3, Daniel V Vasconcelos-Santos4
1Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Aarhus, Denmark.
Insights
Systematic screening for congenital toxoplasmosis began in Austria and France in 1975 and in New England in 1986. Research highlights varying pathogen strains and the role of meat in transmission.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
- Public Health
Background:
- Congenital toxoplasmosis screening programs were established in Austria and France (1975) and New England (1986).
- European Union research in the 1990s and early 2000s informed these screening initiatives.
- The review examines data supporting the implementation of these public health measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the historical data and research leading to systematic screening for congenital toxoplasmosis.
- To discuss the impact of prenatal and postnatal treatment strategies.
- To explore the influence of genetic lineages of *Toxoplasma gondii* on pathogenicity and geographical variations.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of historical data and research findings.
- Discussion of descriptive studies on treatment effects.
- Analysis of *Toxoplasma gondii* genetic diversity and its implications.
Main Results:
- Established screening programs in Austria, France, and New England.
- Identified varying pathogenicity of *Toxoplasma gondii* genetic lineages.
- Highlighted the significance of meat, particularly from organic livestock, as a source of *T. gondii* infection.
Conclusions:
- Screening programs for congenital toxoplasmosis have historical precedent and established protocols.
- Understanding *Toxoplasma gondii* genetic diversity is crucial for interpreting infection risks and treatment outcomes.
- Increased prevalence in organic livestock underscores the importance of food safety measures in preventing transmission.
Abstract:
Prenatal systematic screening for congenital toxoplasmosis has been performed in Austria and France since 1975 and neonatal screening for congenital toxoplasmosis has been part of the New England Newborn screening program since 1986. In this narrative review we review the data leading up to the systematic screening programs in Austria and France, highlighting the main finding of the European Union funded research in the 1990s and early 2000s. Different descriptive studies of the effect of pre- or postnatal treatment are discussed. Toxoplasma gondii has different genetic lineages with different pathogenicity in humans. This means that results in areas with a low pathogenic lineage cannot be extrapolated to an area with highly pathogenic lineages. The importance of meat as a source of infection is discussed in the light of an increased prevalence of T.gondii in organic livestock production .
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