Congenital toxoplasmosis.

The history of toxoplasmosis began in 1923 with the F first published description of a human case, a congenitally infected baby. Toxoplasma gondii had been recognised 15 years earlier, but it was not until 1%96 that the life cycle of this protozoan parasite was understood, with the discovery that the definitive host : was any member of the cat family (fig 1).' 2 _ Despite extensive clinical and epidemiological' reporting toxoplasmosis had a relatively low profile until the 1980s, since when it has attracted interest for two reasons. Firstly, it is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in HIV infected patients; secondly, the possibility of preventing or ameliorating its congenital form in the United Kingdom through introduction of a prenatal screening programme Tissue cyst ofToxoplasma gondii in myocardium became the subject of professional and then public debate.3'8 This review will focus mainly on the second or transplacentally. After initial acquisition there is a issue because a recently published report by a multiparasitaemia and widespread dissemination throughdisciplinary working group has recommended that out the body. The acute stage of the infection then