Toxoplasmosis Transmitted at Autopsy

To the Editor:— The occurrence of lymphadenitis in human toxoplasmosis is well recorded by Siim.1However, the mode of transmission and time course of the disease remains far from clear. Most of our knowledge of acquired toxoplasmosis is based on infections in laboratory workers and on occasional cases of accidental inoculation.2It has been suggested that insect vectors may play a role, but this is inadequately proven.3,4 In the case recorded here a pathologist became acutely ill with toxoplasmosis two months after the autopsy of a patient who died with Hodgkin's disease and toxoplasmic ventriculitis. Histological studies of a lymph node from the pathologist were not specific, but the organism was isolated in two laboratories. The value of serological studies, culture of biopsy material, and the rationale for therapy are discussed. Report of a Case:— A 35-year-old pathologist was seen in June 1965 because of an unexplained