OCULAR TOXOPLASMOSIS

Toxoplasmosis is a common infection of man and animals. The disease is widespread in nature and has a worldwide distribution. The infection is caused by the organism Toxoplasma gondii which was first isolated by Nicolle and Manceaux in Tunis from a North African rodent. The disease can be congenital or acquired with a variety of clinical manifestations that may range from a subclinical course to a generalized infection with fatal outcome. The ocular manifestations of the disease include sudden onset of floaters with blurring of vision. Toxoplasmosis causes a localized necrotizing retinitis with inflammation of the subjacent choroid. The retina sustains the primary injury and the major damage. © 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers.