Treatment of toxoplasmosis: Current options and future perspectives

• Published in: Food and waterborne parasitology Vol. 15; p. e00036
• Main Authors: Konstantinovic, Neda, Guegan, Hélène, Stäjner, Tijana, Belaz, Sorya, Robert-Gangneux, Florence
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.06.2019; Elsevier
• Subjects: Human health and pathology; Infectious diseases; Life Sciences; Pharmaceutical sciences; Pharmacology
• ISSN: 2405-6766; 2405-6766
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2019.e00036

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide parasitic disease infecting about one third of humans, with possible severe outcomes in neonates and immunocompromised patients. Despite continuous and successful efforts to improve diagnosis, therapeutic schemes have barely evolved since many years. This article aims at reviewing the main clinical trials and current treatment practices, and at addressing future perspectives in the light of ongoing researches. •Toxoplasmosis is a widespread zoonosis, which may have an important impact on human and animal health worldwide•Treatment schemes remain unchanged since 20 years, as no new drug has been put recently on the market•Among the few drugs currently available for treatment of toxoplasmosis, none of them is efficient on cysts•Active research to discover new therapeutic targets is ongoing, and promising pathways have been identified, thus paving the way for future drug combinations to eradicate the parasite•Immunomodulatory approaches could add value to prevent relapses in immunocompromised patients, but are still underdeveloped