弓形虫病研究新进展

Recent advances in the study of toxoplasmosis

刚地弓形虫简称弓形虫,属顶复门,可侵袭中枢神经系统。怀孕期间感染弓形虫可引起先天性感染,出现严重的神经系统后遗症。在免疫功能受损的个体中,潜伏于中枢神经系统中的弓形虫再激活可引起脑炎。免疫功能正常的个体感染弓形虫通常无症状并可能终身处于隐性感染状态。然而,有研究表明这些无症状感染可能会对人的行为和其他生理过程产生影响。本文对弓形虫的生物学特性,包括生活史、传播、流行病学特点、寄生虫株和宿主的免疫反应进行综述;并对弓形虫病的诊断和治疗,以及弓形虫感染与神经精神障碍如精神分裂症的可能关联进行了综述。

Toxoplasma gondii in the phylum Apicomplexa is a protozoan that can invade the central nervous system.Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy may result in a congenital infection that can cause severe neurological sequelae.In immunocompromised patients,reactivation of latent toxoplasmosis in the central nervous system can cause encephalitis.Immunocompetent individuals infected with T.gondii are often asymptomatic and may have a life-long latent infection.However,several studies have indicated that these asymptomatic infections may affect human behavior and other physiological processes.This review focuses on the biological characteristics of T.gondii,including its life cycle,distribution,epidemiology,strains,and the host＇s immune response.This review also describes the diagnosis and management of toxoplasmosis as well as the possible association between toxoplasmosis and neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.