Toxoplasma gondii: Diagnostic Challenges, Pathogenesis and Novel Therapeutic Approaches in the ۲۱st Century: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite and the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, is one of the most common parasitic infections worldwide, with an estimated global seroprevalence of ۳۰-۵۰% in humans. This parasite has a complex life cycle and can infect a wide range of warm-blooded hosts, particularly felids as definitive hosts, posing a significant public health concern. While infections in immunocompetent individuals are typically asymptomatic, they can lead to severe complications such as congenital toxoplasmosis, encephalitis, and retinochoroiditis in pregnant women and immunocompromised patients. Given the existing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, this systematic review aims to examine the latest findings in this field. Method: A systematic review was conducted from ۲۰۲۰ to ۲۰۲۵ using PubMed, Web of Science and SID databases, using the keywords "Toxoplasma gondii", "Molecular diagnosis," "Vaccine" and "Drug resistant". The CASP checklist was used for qualitative assessment. Discussion: The findings of this study indicate that accurate diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, particularly in congenital cases and immunocompromised patients, requires combined approaches such as serology (ELISA for IgG and IgM detection) and molecular techniques (multiplex PCR). Furthermore, limitations of current treatments, including side effects of conventional drugs (pyrimethamine + sulfadiazine) and emerging resistant strains, highlight the need for novel therapeutic strategies such as Nano drugs, herbal compounds (for example artemisinin), and subunit vaccines. Recent studies also emphasize the role of rapid diagnostic systems (Point-of-Care) and immunotherapeutic approaches in managing this infection. Conclusion: Toxoplasmosis remains a significant public health challenge. Despite recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic methods, there is a pressing need for more precise diagnostic tools and low-toxicity treatment options, especially for high-risk groups such as pregnant women and immunocompromised patients. This systematic review underscores the importance of future research on effective vaccines, rapid diagnostic methods, and novel anti-parasitic compounds. The results of this study can serve as a guide for researchers and policymakers in improving the control of this infection.

کلیدواژه ها:

Toxoplasma gondii ، Congenital toxoplasmosis ، Molecular diagnosis ، Nano drugs ، Drug resistant