Serological study of ocular infection by gondii toxoplasm in patients who live with animals

Abstract

Diverse microorganisms have been described as etiological agents of uveitis, among them the gondii toxoplasma that is found as a parasite in domestic cats and some other felines. In cat’s fecal residua there are ooquistes [This word isn’t in Websters maybe cyst] which are infectious. When they are ingested an infection develops which includes a rapid production of forms called taquizoitos [This word isn’t in websters]. The parasites later develop cysts that have numerous bradizoitos [This word doesn’t exist] inside. The formation of cysts makes the infection chronic. In the taquizoitos reproduction phase, there is cellular damage and inflammation. Due to hematic or lymphatic dissemination there is an invasion of the whole organism. Ocular lesions caused by gondii toxoplasma in the congenital form as well as in the acquired form constitute an granulomatous uveitis. 25 patients, from villages outside the city of Bogota, were studied at the «Instituto de investigaciones Optométricas» of la Salle university. Serologic samples were taken to determine the IgG and the IgM anti-bodies titles against gondii toxoplasma using the diagnostic systems technique. The detected titles of anti-toxoplasma antibodies was 92% (23/25) of cases. Recent infection was discarded in 86% (20/23) from the positive cases because the IgM values were negative. recent infection was detected in only 13% (3/23). Among the positive cases 62% showed uveitis and 34% retinocoroiditis. When comparing gondii toxoplasma antibodies with animal coexistence and their zone of origin, it was observed that 11 patients (91%) with positive titles coexist with animals in urban areas. Ten patients(83%) who live in urban zones don’t coexist with animals and 2 coexist with animals in rural zones (100%) that is why there is no statistical association between the coexistence with animals and the area where people live.