OCULAR MANIFESTATIONS IN CONGENITAL TOXOPLASMOSIS

Abstract

Congenital toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii that can lead to severe ocular manifestations, particularly in newborns. This study aims to conduct an integrative review of the main ocular manifestations of congenital toxoplasmosis and its pathophysiology. A literature search was performed in the PubMed, BVS, LILACS, and SCIELO databases using the descriptors: “toxoplasmosis,” “congenital,” and “ocular,” combined with the Boolean operator “AND.” Articles published in the last 10 years (2015–2025), observational studies or controlled clinical trials, were included. Duplicates and unrelated articles were excluded. A total of 25 studies were selected, showing that chorioretinitis was the most common ocular manifestation, reported in 23 studies, followed by other complications such as retinal hemorrhages, cataract, uveitis, vitritis, and retinal detachment. These ocular manifestations result from an intense inflammatory response in the immature ocular tissues of the fetus, reflecting the parasite’s strong tropism for these sites. In conclusion, congenital toxoplasmosis remains a significant cause of childhood visual impairment, with chorioretinitis being the most prevalent finding.