REVIEW PAPER
Environmental exposure of pregnant women to infection with Toxoplasma gondii-state of the art.
 
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1
The National Observatory for Health and Work Safety of Agricultural Workers, Institute of Agricultural Medicine, Lublin, Poland.
 
2
Chair and Department of Paedodontics, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
 
 
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2010;17(2):209-214
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Infection with T. gondii is particularly dangerous for pregnant women as it may lead to the transplacental passage of the parasite. Currently, congenital toxoplasmosis is the second most frequent intrauterine infection. The risk of transmission of T. gondii to the foetus varies throughout the world and ranges from 0.6-1.7/1,000 of pregnant women. The consequences of congenital toxoplasmosis are multifarious. On the basis of current literature review, the authors discuss the epidemiological and clinical aspects of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women, the influence of climatic and environmental factors that may lead to an increase in T. gondii infections in humans, particularly in pregnant women, and the principles of prophylactics against T. gondii infections in those women.
 
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