Which of the following statements about congenital toxoplasmosis is true? A fetus that was infected with Toxoplasma during the first trimester is at low risk of developing severe p... Which of the following statements about congenital toxoplasmosis is true? A fetus that was infected with Toxoplasma during the first trimester is at low risk of developing severe pathology. The parasite is transmitted horizontally to the fetus. A female who has had a previous Toxoplasma infection before she became pregnant is at low risk of giving birth to an infant with severe birth defects if she is subsequently infected with Toxoplasma during pregnancy. The risk of severe pathologic outcomes in the fetus is highest when a naive female is infected with Toxoplasma during the last trimester of pregnancy. The bradyzoites in the muscle tissue of pregnant women are able to cross the placenta and then enter into the fetal circulation.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking to evaluate several statements regarding congenital toxoplasmosis to determine which one is true, focusing on the risks of infection at different stages of pregnancy and how the parasite is transmitted.
Answer
A female who had a previous Toxoplasma infection before pregnancy is at low risk of giving birth to an infant with severe defects if infected again during pregnancy.
A female who has had a previous Toxoplasma infection before she became pregnant is at low risk of giving birth to an infant with severe birth defects if she is subsequently infected with Toxoplasma during pregnancy.
Answer for screen readers
A female who has had a previous Toxoplasma infection before she became pregnant is at low risk of giving birth to an infant with severe birth defects if she is subsequently infected with Toxoplasma during pregnancy.
More Information
Women who have been previously infected with Toxoplasma gondii often develop immunity that reduces the risk of transmission and severe outcomes if reinfected during pregnancy.
Tips
One common mistake is thinking that prior infection increases risk, whereas it actually typically provides immunity and reduces the risk for severe fetal outcomes.
Sources
- Toxoplasmosis - Mother To Baby | Fact Sheets - NCBI Bookshelf - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Congenital Toxoplasmosis - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics - sciencedirect.com
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