Infectious diseases Biomarker
Collection Type: Blood
Related System: Infectious diseases
Toxoplasma Ab IgM measures IgM-class antibodies directed against Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. IgM antibodies generally appear early after infection and indicate recent or acute exposure. The test is used when acute infection is suspected—particularly in pregnant women (risk of congenital transmission), immunocompromised patients (risk of severe disease), or neonates with possible congenital infection. Symptoms prompting testing include fever, swollen lymph nodes, myalgias, visual changes (chorioretinitis), or neurological signs (encephalitis). Results vary with age and immune status: IgM does not cross the placenta (so neonatal IgM implies congenital infection), and immunosuppressed patients may have atypical antibody responses; IgM can also persist for months causing interpretation challenges.
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Q: What does Toxoplasma IgM positive mean?
A: Toxoplasma IgM positive means your immune system has made IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, suggesting a recent or acute infection. However, IgM can persist for months or give false positives, so additional tests (IgG, IgG avidity, repeat testing) are needed to determine timing—especially in pregnancy. Discuss results with your healthcare provider for interpretation and management.
Q: How do you treat toxoplasmosis IgM positive?
A: If IgM-positive, first confirm acute infection with IgG and avidity testing and assess clinical status. Uncomplicated, immunocompetent patients often need no therapy; severe, ocular, or immunocompromised cases are treated with pyrimethamine sulfadiazine plus folinic acid (leucovorin) and, in HIV, continued suppressive therapy until immune recovery. In pregnancy, give spiramycin to reduce fetal transmission; if fetal infection is proven, use pyrimethamine-based therapy. Consult specialist.
Q: What does a positive IgM antibody test mean?
A: A positive IgM antibody test usually indicates a recent or early immune response to an infection, suggesting current or recent exposure. IgM appears before IgG but can produce false positives from cross‑reactivity or technical issues. Results require clinical correlation with symptoms, timing, and possibly confirmatory testing (PCR or repeat serology) to determine active infection versus past exposure or laboratory error.
Q: What diseases does Toxoplasma cause?
A: Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis. In healthy people it is often asymptomatic or causes mild flu-like illness and swollen lymph nodes. In pregnant women it can cause congenital toxoplasmosis, leading to miscarriage, stillbirth, or long-term eye and brain damage in the fetus. In immunocompromised people it can cause severe disseminated disease, especially encephalitis, and ocular infection (chorioretinitis).
Q: Can toxoplasmosis be cured?
A: Toxoplasmosis can be treated but not always cured. Antiparasitic drugs (for example pyrimethamine with sulfadiazine plus folinic acid, or trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole) control acute disease and prevent complications. However, Toxoplasma forms tissue cysts that often persist, so latent infection is usually not eradicated. Immunocompetent people may need no treatment; congenital or immunocompromised cases require prompt, often prolonged or lifelong therapy to prevent reactivation.
Q: What are the signs of toxoplasmosis in humans?
A: Many people with toxoplasmosis have no symptoms. When present, signs resemble a mild flu: swollen lymph nodes, fever, muscle aches and fatigue. In immunocompromised people or severe cases it can cause headache, confusion, seizures, poor coordination, breathing problems and vision loss from eye inflammation. Congenital infection may cause miscarriage or newborn issues like jaundice, enlarged liver/spleen, brain calcifications and vision impairment.