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.

Infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis, is one of the most frequent zoonoses in the world; it normally affects both genders equally. Humans are one of several possible intermediate hosts, and the disease is oligosymptomatic in most cases. Vertical transmission is an important cause of fetal malformation and sequels in newborns. Approximately 10% of postnatal cases present multiple manifestations, ranging from low fever and mild lymphadenopathy to severe encephalitis. In moderate cases, lesions such as retinochoroiditis may emerge during acute infection or even years later. We analyzed 313 cases of toxoplasmosis from 1992 to 2004, including 261 acute cases. Most patients were women (68.1%), and 39% of these were pregnant. Among acute infection cases, 64.8% presented symptomatic disease; the most frequent manifestations were lymphadenomegaly (59.8%), fever (27.2%), headache (10.7%), asthenia (10%), weight loss (8.4%), myalgia (8%), retinochoroiditis (3.4%) and hepatosplenomegaly (1.5%). Although ocular lesions by T. gondii are well documented as a possible consequence of postnatal infection, two patients developed retinochoroiditis only two years after primary infection. This demonstrates the need for toxoplasmosis case surveillance, even long after acute manifestations.