[Practical aspects of toxoplasmosis].

Progress during the last 10 years in parasitologic, epidemiologic and clinical areas has led to new insight concerning toxoplasmosis. Many earlier beliefs concerning toxoplasmosis must be revised. One of these is that dogs or other domestic animals are a source of infection for man. Only domestic cats excrete in their feces toxoplasma oocysts which are potentially infectious for man; oocysts, however, have little importance under living conditions in Central Europe. Concern about connatal transmission of toxoplasma by mothers who have been infected prior to conception is now considered baseless. Only a primary infection during pregnancy constitutes a certain danger for the fetus and chemotherapy is suggested. The former clinical concept of toxoplasmic endometritis was never confirmed by histopathology. The same applies to specific placental changes supposedly due to toxoplasma infection which could lead to abortion. In spite of the usefulness of serologic evidence for clinical diagnosis, there is no danger for the fetus when a mother has a high antibody titer prior to pregnancy; the mother could be regarded as vaccinated. Appropriate information should be supplied in the "motherhood-passport" use in Germany to avoid worrying a mother with positive titer, and to congratulating a woman with negative findings for her hygienic standard. Only in case of primary infection during pregnancy a certain danger of infection and disease for the child exists. However if treated the chemotherapeutic treatment significantly reduces the risk.