Ocular Toxoplasmosis

Abstract

Introduction Ocular toxoplasmosis is a recognized clinical entity. However, proof of the existence of a toxoplasmic eye infection is difficult to establish because: (1) isolation of this organism is rarely possible except from the enucleated eye, or from aspirated aqueous or subretinal fluid; (2) acute systemic infection preceding or associated with the acute eye disease occurs in less than 1% of cases; and (3) serologic and skin test studies reveal only the presence of antibody and do not indicate activity, except in unusual cases. The evidence that toxoplasmosis affecting the retina and choroid exists with some frequency is as follows: (1) histologic studies after enucleation of inflamed and glaucomatous eyes have revealed this parasite in a considerable number of instances; (2) isolations of Toxoplasma have been made from enucleated eyes in a few instances, and from aqueous and subretinal fluid in rare cases; (3) concomitant systemic and eye involvement with