Impact of chronic toxoplasmosis in pregnancy: Association between maternal IgG antibodies against T. gondii and neurocognitive development effects

• Published in: Neurotoxicology (Park Forest South) 2024-12, Vol.106, p.10-16
• Main Authors: Martinez, Victor Otero, dos Santos, Nathália Ribeiro, Bah, Homègnon Antonin Ferréol, Gomes, Erival Amorim, Costa, Daisy Oliveira, Souza, Maria Isabel Santos Silveira, de Carvalho, Chrissie Ferreira, Andrade, Nara Côrtes, Menezes-Filho, José Antônio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Birth cohort; Neurodevelopment; Pregnancy, Serology; Toxoplasmosis
• ISSN: 0161-813X; 1872-9711; 1872-9711
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2024.12.001

Toxoplasmosis presents notable hazards in the context of pregnancy, impacting the health of the mother and the neurodevelopment of the fetus via immune reactions and possible vertical transmission. The maternal immune response from chronic Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection may negatively influence fetal neurodevelopment. This research evaluated the association between the seroprevalence of chronic T. gondii and cytomegalovirus infection in pregnant women and the neuropsychological development of their children at 12 months of age. A follow-up study evaluated women during the gestational period and their respective infants. The pregnant women were tested for the presence of antibodies to infectious agents: T. gondii, cytomegalovirus (CMV), syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C. Detailed information about the newborns was extracted from medical records. At 12 ± 3 months of age, the infant's neurodevelopment was assessed using the Bayley-III Scales of Infant and Toddler Development by a trained specialist under the supervision of a neuropsychologist. A statistically significant association was found between maternal IgG anti-T. gondii levels and lower scores on the Bayley-III cognition scale, with a non-standardized β-coefficient of −0.078 (95 %-CI: −0.144 to −0.013), accounting for 35.1 % of the variation in this outcome. These results suggest that chronic maternal T. gondii infection, even without vertical transmission, may be associated with subtle changes in the child's cognitive development. Therefore, monitoring and early intervention are essential to identify and address possible delays in childhood neurodevelopment related to chronic maternal toxoplasmosis. •Maternal T. gondii infection is linked to neurocognitive development at 12 months.•Newborns of mothers with high IgG against T. gondii show lower cognitive scores.•Maternal IgG anti-T. gondii may be linked to lower language scores in newborns.