Current Eye Research, 32:653–657, 2007 Copyright  c Informa Healthcare USA, Inc. ISSN: 0271-3683 print / 1460-2202 online DOI: 10.1080/02713680701471123 Toxoplasma gondii Detection by Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction in Lens Aspirate and Peripheral Blood Leukocyte in Congenital Cataract Patients: The First Report from a Tertiary Eye Hospital in India B. Mahalakshmi, K. Lily Therese, G. Shyamala, U. Devipriya, and H. N. Madhavan Vision Research Foundation, L & T Microbiology Research Centre, Chennai, India ABSTRACT Purpose: To detect T. gondii DNA and specific antibodies in lens aspirates (LA) and peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) of congenital cataract patients. Methods: ELISA for T. gondii antibodies on sera nPCR for T. gondii DNA (B1 gene) on LA and PBL were performed for 52 patients. Results: T. gondii DNA was detected in 29 (55.8%) of the 52 patients (LA-14, PBL-13, LA and PBL-2, and specific IgM in 2 sera). nPCR in PBL was more sensitive than ELISA (p < 0.005). Conclusion: nPCR is a sensitive technique to detect T. gondii from LA and PBL in congenital cataract patients. KEYWORDS T. gondii in lens aspirate; B1 gene of T. gondii; T. gondii in congenital cataract; nested PCR for T. gondii INTRODUCTION Congenital/infantile cataract is the most serious type of childhood cataract because of its potential for inhibiting or restricting early visual development. 1 Prevention of visual impairment due to congenital and infantile cataract is an important component of the World Health Organization international pro- gram for the elimination of avoidable blindness by 2020. 2 The prevalence of blindness among children in different region of the world varies from 0.2– 1.5/ 1000 children. This corresponds to an estimate of 1.4 million blind chil- dren worldwide. 3 Congenital cataract affects about 3/10,000 newborns in India and is a significant cause of blindness in children, often leading to lifelong visual disability. 3 The various causes of congenital cataract include prena- tal infections due to Rubella, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii ), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Treponema pallidum, prenatal drug exposure, prenatal ionizing radiations, prenatal/peri-natal metabolic disorders, hereditary, or unknown etiology. 4 Received 8 March 2007 Accepted 16 May 2007 Correspondence: K. Lily Therese, Vision Research Foundation, L & T Microbiology Research Centre, 18 College Road, Chennai 600006, India. E-mail: lilyirudayam@gmail.com 653 Curr Eye Res Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of Toronto on 08/15/11 For personal use only.