Toxoplasmosis in children during the COVID 19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

The aim is to study the features of toxoplasmosis during the COVID19 pandemic. Materials and methods. During the period 2019- 2021, 144 patients with an established diagnosis of toxoplasmosis were observed. 2 cases of congenital toxoplasmosis, 11 cases of acute acquired toxoplasmosis (in 2020-21) and 132 cases of chronic toxoplasmosis. Results. The concentration level of IgG antibodies to T.gondii in 2020-21 was higher than in 2019, and 4 children over 14 years old with chronic toxoplasmosis had a new COVID19 coronavirus infection 2 months before admission to the hospital and had the highest concentration of IgG antibodies to T.gondii. Conclusion. During the COVID19 pandemic, there is an increase in cases of acute acquired toxoplasmosis and in 7% of children over 14 years of age, reactivation of latent toxoplasmosis cannot be excluded, given the increased levels of IgG antibody concentrations compared to the pre-covid period. Apparently, an alternative interpretation to enzyme immunoassay is the immunoblot method (line-blot), since G antibodies to different parasite proteins are detected and it is possible to determine the phase of infection (reactivation or latent infection if the patient has only G antibodies). In the detection of an infectious syndrome (febrility. Lymphadenopathy, hepato or splenomegaly, chorioretinitis) it is necessary to make a differential diagnosis with herpesvirus infections that cause a similar clinical picture.