Infectious Diseases

From Emerging Infectious Diseases
Newborn Screening for Congenital Infectious Diseases
Eurico Camargo Neto; Rosélia Rubin; Jaqueline Schulte; Roberto Giugliani
Authors and Disclosures
Posted: 06/16/2004; Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2004;10(6) © 2004 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
To estimate the prevalence of congenital toxoplasmosis, Chagas disease, cytomegalovirus, and rubella, blood samples on dried blood spot (DBS) from neonates (day 3–20 of life) were screened for immunoglobulin (Ig) M against Toxoplasma gondii, cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, and IgG against Trypanosoma cruzi by methods used for serum and adapted for use with DBS. Positive samples were further analyzed for IgM and IgG in serum from neonates and mothers. DBS samples from 364,130 neonates were tested for Toxoplasma gondii–specific IgM, and 15,873 neonates were also tested for IgM against cytomegalovirus and rubella virus and for Trypanosoma cruzi–specific IgG. A total of 195 were diagnosed with congenital toxoplasmosis, 16 with cytomegalovirus, and 11 with congenital rubella. One newborn had a confirmed result for Chagas disease, and 21 mothers had positive serum antibodies. These results suggest that infectious diseases should be considered for future inclusion in programs for newborn screening of metabolic diseases in disease-endemic areas.

Introduction
Toxoplasmosis infection during pregnancy can cause congenital infection and manifestations, such as mental retardation and blindness.[1] Hydrocephalus, intracranial calcification, and retinochoroiditis are the most common manifestations of tissue damage from congenital toxoplasmosis. However, the effect of prenatal treatment on these outcomes is unclear,[2] and the best method for preventing and controlling congenital toxoplasmosis is controversial. A neonatal screening program based on detecting immunoglobulin (Ig) M antibodies against Trypanosoma gondii alone would...