TOXOPLASMIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS

Abstract

Cases of infantile toxoplasmic encephalomyelitis, an infection of the central nervous system due to the protozoon Toxoplasma, have thus far been recognized only by postmortem study¹and animal inoculation with infected tissues obtained at autopsy.²Consideration of some of the outstanding pathologic features of the disease and a review of the clinical findings in cases verified by autopsy have suggested certain diagnostic criteria for the recognition of the disease during life.¹The outstanding clinical features are the appearance of symptoms and signs of widespread involvement of the central nervous system, often marked by internal hydrocephalus and convulsions at birth, or soon thereafter; roentgenographic evidence of cerebral calcification, and characteristic focal chorioretinitis. Since the description of the pathologic material, 6 living patients have been encountered who show some or all of the features of the syndrome so outlined. From some of these infants and children, toxoplasmas have been isolated, and for these