Toxoplasmosis infects millions of people worldwide. The prevalence of human infection in many countries is estimated in approximately 40% to 50%. In Brazil this rate increases up to 80%, depending on the studied area. The majority of human hosts present the infection as asymptomatic carriers. Serologically negative pregnant women may contribute to a higher morbidity of the disease due to parasite transmission to the fetus via placenta if acute toxoplasmosis is acquired during pregnancy. The diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis has relied on the evidence of circulating anti-parasite IgM. The high sensitivity of the present serological techniques has brought results of residual IgM eventually confounding final diagnosis. In this scenario, the molecular techniques, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), may promote a better interpretation of the real status of human/parasite interaction, although they have not been extremely validated for routine use in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis.
Toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasma gondii; Diagnosis; PCR