Clinical manifestations of toxoplasmosis in the adult

UNUSUAL NUSUAL protozoan, fungal, and viral infections have been reported during the use of corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive agents in the treatment of autoimmune and malignant diseases. The occurrence of toxoplasmosis during our study of advanced cancer prompted a review of the clinical manifestations of this disease. As a result a modified classification of toxoplasmosis in the adult is proposed. The protozoan,Toxoplasma gondii, may produce a congenital or an acquired disease. The congenital type is usually recognized at birth or very early in life and may remain dormant or may progress.1In the inactive congenital cases the stigmata of the disease are present in later years. Some cases with systemic manifestations in the adult may represent a previously dormant congenital disease in relapse,2such as a late relapse of congenital ocular toxoplasmosis.3,4Acquired toxoplasmosis may have minimal symptoms5or be completely asymptomatic; the latter is