TOXOPLASMOSIS DURING PREGNANCY - SCREENIN G, PRENATAL-DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Maternal infection with Toxoplasma gondii acquired during pregnancy oc curs in more than 500 women per year in Switzerland. Systematic screen ing at the beginning of pregnancy allows the introduction of health ed ucation programs. The screening during pregnancy is performed to diagn ose primary maternal infections and to propose prenatal diagnosis and treatment. The administration of specific antibiotherapy during pregna ncy (spiramycine or the association of pyrimethamine and sulfonamides) significantly reduces the risk of fetal infection. Prenatal diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis is possible and reliable. It avoids unnec essary termination of pregnancy when the fetus is not infected and spe cific therapy in case of infection (association of pyrimethamine and s ulfonamides). Prenatal treatment may be proposed without prenatal diag nosis as of the 16th week of gestation. In any case, prenatal treatmen t seems to reduce the incidence of severe congenital toxoplasmosis.