BACKGROUND Recurrence is a hallmark of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT), and conditions that influence its occurrence remain a challenge. Natural killer cells (NK) are effectors cells whose primary is cytotoxic function against many parasites, including Toxoplasma gondii. Among the NK cell receptors, immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) deserve attention due to their high polymorphism. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to analyse the influence of KIR gene polymorphism in the course of OT infection and its association with recurrences after an active episode. METHODS Ninety-six patients from the Ophthalmologic Clinic of the National Institute of Infectology Evandro Chagas were followed for up to five years. After DNA extraction, genotyping of the patients was performed by polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific oligonucleotide (PCR-SSO) utilising Luminex equipment for reading. During follow-up, 60.4% had a recurrence. FINDINGS We identified 25 KIR genotypes and found a higher frequency of genotype 1 (31.7%) with worldwide distribution. We note that the KIR2DL2 inhibitor gene and the gene activator KIR2DS2 were more frequent in patients without recurrence. Additionally, we observed that individuals who carry these genes progressed recurrence episodes slowly compared to individuals who do not carry these genes. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The KIR2DL2 and KIR2DS2 are associated as possible protection markers against ocular toxoplasmosis recurrence (OTR).

RESUMO Este trabalho visou evidenciar a importância da detecção precoce da coroidite interna punctata e destacar sua fisiopatologia inflamatória e possíveis diagnósticos diferenciais dentro das white dot syndromes. O destaque foi dado principalmente à coroidite multifocal e à panuveíte, ao se demonstrar sua epidemiologia peculiar em mulheres jovens, caracterizar sua apresentação clínica típica na fundoscopia e explorar as vantagens e as desvantagens de realizar os exames complementares que fazem parte da análise multimodal útil para o diagnóstico (especialmente a angiografia fluoresceínica, a tomografia de coerência óptica e a indocianina verde). Descreve-se o caso de uma mulher de 28 anos diagnosticada com coroidite interna punctata com membrana neovascular coroidal em olho direito. O tratamento foi realizado com injeção intravítrea de aflibercepte e corticoterapia sistêmica 1mg/kg ao dia. Este relato é importante por permitir debater o manejo da coroidite interna punctata durante a gestação e a decisão de realizar o tratamento mediante uma diversidade de opções terapêuticas.

ABSTRACT This work aimed to demonstrate the importance of early detection of punctate inner choroidopathy, highlighting the pathophysiology of inflammation and the differential diagnoses among white dot syndromes. Special attention was given to multifocal choroiditis and panuveitis, by demonstrating the peculiar epidemiology in young women, characterizing the typical clinical presentation in ophthalmoscopy, and exploring the advantages and disadvantages of performing the complementary examinations, which are part of the multimodal analysis useful for diagnosis (particularly fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, and indocyanine green). We report the case of a 28-year-old female, diagnosed as punctate inner choroidopathy with choroidal [N.T. no título aparece subretinal = subrretiniana] neovascular membrane in the right eye. She was treated with intravitreal injection of aflibercept and systemic corticosteroid 1 mg/kg/day. This case report is important for addressing the management of punctate inner choroidopathy during pregnancy, and the decision to carry out treatment considering diverse therapeutic options.

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis that generally produces an asymptomatic infection. In some cases, however, toxoplasmosis infection can lead to ocular damage. The immune system has a crucial role in both the course of the infection and in the evolution of toxoplasmosis disease. In particular, IFN-³ plays an important role in resistance to toxoplasmosis. Polymorphisms in genes encoding cytokines have been shown to have an association with susceptibility to parasitic diseases. The aim of this work was to analyse the occurrence of polymorphisms in the gene encoding IFN-³ (+874T/A) among Toxoplasma gondii seropositive individuals, including those with ocular lesions caused by the parasite, from a rural population of Santa Rita de Cássia, Barra Mansa, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Further, we verified which of these polymorphisms could be related to susceptibility to the development of ocular toxoplasmosis. This study included 34 individuals with ocular toxoplasmosis (ocular group) and 134 without ocular lesions (control group). The differences between A and T allele distributions were not statistically significant between the two groups. However, we observed that a higher frequency of individuals from the ocular group possessed the A/A genotype, when compared with the control group, suggesting that homozygocity for the A allele could enhance susceptibility to ocular toxoplasmosis in T. gondii infection.

Para determinar a prevalência da toxoplasmose ocular na população em geral do bairro de Santa Rita de Cássia, Barra Mansa, RJ, foi realizado um estudo seccional no qual 1.071 indivíduos foram submetidos a testes sorológicos (IgG e IgM anti-Toxoplasma) e a exame físico e oftalmológico. O diagnóstico da toxoplasmose ocular presumida foi baseado em critérios clínicos, sorológicos e aspecto da lesão retinocoroidiana. As lesões foram classificadas em três tipos morfológicos: 1. Limites marcados com halo de hiperpigmentação e área de atrofia coriorretiniana central. 2. Halo hipopigmentado e área central hiperpigmentada e 3. Hiperpigmentadas ou hipopigmentadas. A prevalência de lesões cicatrizadas compatíveis com toxoplasmose ocular foi de 3,8% na população em geral e 5,8% entre os indivíduos com sorologia positiva para Toxoplasma gondii (65,9% dos indivíduos analisados), com predominância de: lesões do tipo 1 (41,5%), sexo feminino (68,3%), periféricas (58,5%) e menores que 3 diâmetros de disco (87,8%).

To determine the prevalence of ocular toxoplasmosis among the general population of the district of Santa Rita de Cassia, Barra Mansa, State of Rio de Janeiro, a cross-sectional study on 1,071 individuals was performed. These subjects underwent serological tests (anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM) and physical and ophthalmological examinations. The diagnosis of presumed ocular toxoplasmosis was based on clinical and serological criteria and the appearance of the retinochoroidal lesion. The lesions were classified into three morphological types: 1. Limits marked with a halo of hyperpigmentation and an area of central chorioretinal atrophy; 2. Hypopigmented halo and hyperpigmented central area; and 3. Hyperpigmented or hypopigmented. The prevalence of healed lesions compatible with ocular toxoplasmosis was 3.8% among the general population and 5.8% among individuals who were seropositive for Toxoplasma gondii (65.9% of the individuals evaluated). Type-1 lesions (41.5%), female sex (68.3%), peripheral lesions (58.5%) and lesions smaller than three disc diameters predominated.