Ocular toxoplasmosis in the developing world

Toxoplasmosis is endemic through most of the world, and can infect a large proportion of the adult population.1,2 However, its prevalence differs in various countries.3 It is estimated to infect at least 10% of adults in northern temperate countries and more than half of adults in Mediterranean and tropical contries.4 The factors that affect the epidemiology of ocular toxoplasmosis include endogenous factors, such as age, sex, ethnic background, medical history, and inmunogenetic background, and exogenous factors, such as climate, public health, dietary habits, and causative strands. Clearly, prevalence is higher in South America than in Europe and USA. The varying seroprevalence between African countries might be explained by differences in socioeconomic status, food habits, and even the screening method. In this article, we have reviewed the epidemiology, clinical findings, and management of ocular toxoplasmosis in the developing world.