title: New clinical and experimental insights into Old World and neotropical ocular toxoplasmosis.
abstract: Retinal lesions or other ocular manifestations are serious consequences of infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Whilst classically considered a consequence of congenital transmission, recent screening studies estimated that 2% of T. gondii seropositive persons in Europe and North America have retinal lesions, most of them persisting unnoticed. The situation is more dramatic in South America, probably due to the predominance of virulent strains. Some of these strains seem to exhibit ocular or neuronal tropism and are responsible for severe ocular lesions. Despite the medical importance, the physiopathological mechanisms have only recently begun to be elucidated. The particular immune-privileged situation in the eye has to be considered. Studies on French patients showed low or undetectable ocular parasite loads, but a clear Th1/Th17 type immune reaction. Suitable mouse models have appeared in the last few years. Using such a model, IL-17A proved to impair parasite control and induce pathology. In contrast, in South American patients, the parasite seems to be much less efficiently controlled through a Th2 type or suppressive immune response that favors parasite replication. Finally, several host genetic markers controlling immune response factors have been associated with ocular involvement of T. gondii infection, mainly in South America.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Parasitologie et Pathologie Tropicale, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle, Université de Strasbourg, 3 rue Koeberlé, 67000 Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: pfaff@unistra.fr.
authors.forename: Alexander W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Pfaff
authors.affiliation: Institut de Parasitologie et Pathologie Tropicale, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle, Université de Strasbourg, 3 rue Koeberlé, 67000 Strasbourg, France; GEPAMOL, Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad del Quindío, Avenida Bolivar 12N, Armenia, Colombia.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de-la-Torre
authors.affiliation: Institut de Parasitologie et Pathologie Tropicale, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle, Université de Strasbourg, 3 rue Koeberlé, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rochet
authors.affiliation: Institut de Parasitologie et Pathologie Tropicale, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle, Université de Strasbourg, 3 rue Koeberlé, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brunet
authors.affiliation: Institut de Parasitologie et Pathologie Tropicale, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle, Université de Strasbourg, 3 rue Koeberlé, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabou
authors.affiliation: Service d'Ophtalmologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 1 place de l'Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.affiliation: Service d'Ophtalmologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 1 place de l'Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Tristan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bourcier
authors.affiliation: GEPAMOL, Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad del Quindío, Avenida Bolivar 12N, Armenia, Colombia.
authors.forename: Jorge E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gomez-Marin
authors.affiliation: Institut de Parasitologie et Pathologie Tropicale, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle, Université de Strasbourg, 3 rue Koeberlé, 67000 Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: candolfi@unistra.fr.
authors.forename: Ermanno
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Candolfi
mesh_terms: D000569:Americas / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Human studies; Inflammation; Mouse models; Ocular toxoplasmosis; Parasite strains; South America; Toxoplasma gondii