Detection of Toxoplasma Gondii Tachyzoites in Cerebrospinal Fluid: Once in a Blue Moon Finding

Detection of tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii in cerebrospinal fluid led to the diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) toxoplasmosis in a 20 years old male. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was obtained by lumbar puncture and two cytology smears were prepared by cytocentrifugation, one of which was stained with the May-Grünwald Giemsa (MGG) stain and the other with Papanicolaou stain. Light microscopic examination revealed pleocytosis along with numerous intracellular phagocytosed as well as extracellular tachyzoites with cytomorphology characteristic of Toxoplasma gondii. The diagnosis was confirmed by the serological elevation of anti-Toxoplasma IgM levels.