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Robert MG, Brenier-Pinchart MP, Garnaud C, Fricker-Hidalgo H, Pelloux H. Molecular diagnosis of toxoplasmosis: recent advances and a look to the future. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2021; 19:1529-1542. [PMID: 34112045 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2021.1941867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Toxoplasmosis is a globally distributed parasitic infection that can be particularly severe when opportunistic or congenital. Its diagnosis requires accurate and rapid techniques that rely mainly on serology and molecular methods. AREAS COVERED The aim of this review was to discuss the positioning of the molecular diagnosis of toxoplasmosis according to the different clinical situations possibly resulting from infection with T. gondii, and to detail recent developments in this technique. The English and French literature were searched with the following keywords: 'Toxoplasmosis', "Molecular diagnosis" and 'PCR'. EXPERT OPINION Molecular techniques have revolutionized the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, and practices have considerably evolved over the past decades. However, there is still a high degree of inter-laboratory heterogeneity which impairs comparisons between results and studies. Efforts to standardize practices are underway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Gladys Robert
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France.,Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut pour l'Avancée des Biosciences (IAB), Grenoble, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Brenier-Pinchart
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France.,Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut pour l'Avancée des Biosciences (IAB), Grenoble, France.,Centre National de Référence Toxoplasmose - Pôle Biologie Moléculaire, France
| | - Cécile Garnaud
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France.,Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble INP, TIMC-IMAG, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Hervé Pelloux
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France.,Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut pour l'Avancée des Biosciences (IAB), Grenoble, France.,Centre National de Référence Toxoplasmose - Pôle Biologie Moléculaire, France
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients is associated with a high mortality rate. Molecular techniques are important tools to diagnose acute disease in immunocompromised patients, but there are various methods with variable efficiency. Some of them have been validated for the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis, but the impact of their use has not been evaluated in immunocompromised patients. RECENT FINDINGS Toxoplasmosis is of increasing importance in non-HIV immunocompromised patients. In addition, the picture of disease shows greater severity in South America, both in immunocompetent study participants and in congenitally infected infants. These epidemiological differences could influence the sensitivity of diagnostic methods. This review analyzes recent data on molecular diagnosis and compares them with older ones, in light of progress gained in molecular techniques and of recent epidemiological findings. Most recent studies were conducted in South America and used PCR targeting the B1 gene. PCR on blood could allow diagnosing a significant proportion of patients with ocular toxoplasmosis in Brazil. SUMMARY Quantitative PCR methods with specific probes should be used to improve sensitivity and warrant specificity. Performance of quantitative PCR targeting the repeated 529 bp sequence for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients needs evaluation in field studies in South America and in western countries.
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Schmidt-Hieber M, Silling G, Schalk E, Heinz W, Panse J, Penack O, Christopeit M, Buchheidt D, Meyding-Lamadé U, Hähnel S, Wolf HH, Ruhnke M, Schwartz S, Maschmeyer G. CNS infections in patients with hematological disorders (including allogeneic stem-cell transplantation)-Guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society of Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO). Ann Oncol 2016; 27:1207-25. [PMID: 27052648 PMCID: PMC4922317 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdw155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Diagnosis of CNS infections remains a great challenge in patients with hematological disorders since symptoms might both be masked and be mimicked by other conditions such as metabolic disturbances or consequences from antineoplastic treatment. Thus, awareness of this complication is crucial and any suspicion of a CNS infection should lead to timely and adequate diagnostics and treatment to improve the outcome in this population. Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are infrequently diagnosed in immunocompetent patients, but they do occur in a significant proportion of patients with hematological disorders. In particular, patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation carry a high risk for CNS infections of up to 15%. Fungi and Toxoplasma gondii are the predominant causative agents. The diagnosis of CNS infections is based on neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid examination and biopsy of suspicious lesions in selected patients. However, identification of CNS infections in immunocompromised patients could represent a major challenge since metabolic disturbances, side-effects of antineoplastic or immunosuppressive drugs and CNS involvement of the underlying hematological disorder may mimic symptoms of a CNS infection. The prognosis of CNS infections is generally poor in these patients, albeit the introduction of novel substances (e.g. voriconazole) has improved the outcome in distinct patient subgroups. This guideline has been developed by the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society of Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO) with the contribution of a panel of 14 experts certified in internal medicine, hematology/oncology, infectious diseases, intensive care, neurology and neuroradiology. Grades of recommendation and levels of evidence were categorized by using novel criteria, as recently published by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Schmidt-Hieber
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, HELIOS Clinic Berlin-Buch, Berlin
| | - G Silling
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital, Aachen, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Aachen
| | - E Schalk
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Otto-von-Guericke University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg
| | - W Heinz
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Center of Internal Medicine, Würzburg
| | - J Panse
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital, Aachen, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Aachen
| | - O Penack
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité University Medicine, Campus Virchow Clinic, Berlin
| | - M Christopeit
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg
| | - D Buchheidt
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Mannheim University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim
| | - U Meyding-Lamadé
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Nordwest Frankfurt, Frankfurt/M., Germany Brunei Neuroscience Stroke and Rehabilitation Centre, Jerudong, Brunei Darussalam Department of Neuroinfectiology, Otto-Meyerhof-Centre, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg
| | - S Hähnel
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg
| | - H H Wolf
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Halle, Halle
| | - M Ruhnke
- Paracelsus Clinic Osnabrück, Osnabrück
| | - S Schwartz
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Charité University Medicine, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin
| | - G Maschmeyer
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Ernst von Bergmann Clinic, Potsdam, Germany
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Elmore S, Samelius G, Fernando C, Alisauskas R, Jenkins E. Evidence for Toxoplasma gondii in migratory vs. nonmigratory herbivores in a terrestrial arctic ecosystem. CAN J ZOOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2015-0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
It is currently unclear how Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle and Manceaux, 1908) persists in arctic tundra ecosystems in the absence of felid definitive hosts. To investigate potential transmission routes of T. gondii in a terrestrial arctic food web, we collected samples from two migratory herbivores, Ross’s Geese (Chen rossi (Cassin, 1861)) and Lesser Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens (L., 1758)), and from two resident herbivores, Nearctic brown lemmings (Lemmus trimucronatus (Richardson, 1825)) and collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus (Traill, 1823)), trapped at Karrak Lake, Nunavut, Canada. Antibodies were detected in 76 of 234 (32.4%) serum samples from Ross’s Geese and 66 of 233 (28.3%) serum samples from Lesser Snow Geese. We did not detect T. gondii antibodies in filter-paper eluate tested from thoracic fluid samples collected from 84 lemmings. We did not detect T. gondii DNA in brain tissue from these lemmings. Although a small sample size, our findings suggest that lemmings in this terrestrial arctic ecosystem are not exposed to, or infected with, the parasite. This suggests that oocysts are not introduced into the terrestrial arctic ecosystem at Karrak Lake via freshwater runoff from temperate regions. This study demonstrated that live adult arctic-nesting geese are exposed to T. gondii and therefore migratory herbivorous hosts are potential sources of T. gondii infection for predators in terrestrial arctic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- S.A. Elmore
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - G. Samelius
- Snow Leopard Trust, 4649 Sunnyside Avenue North, Suite 325, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
| | - C. Fernando
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - R.T. Alisauskas
- Environment Canada, Prairie and Northern Wildlife Research Centre, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X4, Canada
| | - E.J. Jenkins
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
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