[The effectiveness of a general test for Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnancy].

Primary toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnancy (6.7 per thousand pregnancies) is considered to be a potential danger to foetal development (congenital infections in 5.3 per thousand). This conclusion had been drawn from a prospective study into 1,697 pregnant women. It is a primary infection which can be detected only by means of specific diagnostic methods. - Pyrimethamine-sulphonamide treatment ,ist be considered as the optional for pregnant women, even by all accounts of side-effects. The risk of foetal infection has been reduced from 64 to 14 per cent by use of such treatment on cases of primary infection. - The results so far obtained from examination of congenitally infected children, aged between nine and ten years, are likely to justify the recommendation of general toxoplasma gondii testing and specific therapy for all cases of primary infection during pregnancy.