Toxoplasmosis

This research aims to understand how eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, become activated and their role in immune responses. Eosinophil counts often increase due to allergies, asthma, parasitic infections, autoimmune conditions, or rarely, tumors. Elevated eosinophil levels, called eosinophilia, usually cause no symptoms but can sometimes lead to swelling, itching, allergic lung problems, heart disease, or nerve damage. Participants with eosinophil counts over 750ml or abnormal eosinophil buildup in skin or tissues, aged 1 to 100 years, will undergo clinical evaluations including medical history, exams, and blood tests. Additional testing may include studies of eyes, lungs, skin, bone marrow, nerves, or heart depending on symptoms and age. This is an observational study without experimental treatments patients needing therapy will get standard care. Some participants may also undergo bone marrow biopsy, genetic testing, or leukapheresis for adults for research purposes. During the study, participants will donate blood samples for laboratory studies and may have annual follow-ups with exams and blood tests to track eosinophil levels and condition changes. Researchers will collect samples like blood, bone marrow, tissue, and body fluids to study disease mechanisms, biomarkers, and treatment responses. The study will monitor clinical and immunological responses to therapy and evaluate family members to explore genetic causes of eosinophilia. The main goal is to better understand eosinophilic disorders and improve diagnosis and treatment options.

Researchers are conducting a nationwide observational study in Denmark to track and understand infections of the central nervous system CNS among adults aged 18 years and older. This study systematically registers clinical characteristics and outcomes of all community-acquired CNS infections diagnosed or treated at infectious disease departments across the country since January 1, 2015. The aim is to monitor trends in infections such as bacterial meningitis, viral meningitis, encephalitis, brain abscess, neuroborreliosis, and neurosyphilis, among others. The study involves collecting detailed information on diagnosis at admission, symptoms, timing and type of diagnostic tests like lumbar puncture and cranial imaging, and treatments given. These treatments and diagnostic procedures are determined by local physicians and are not standardized across sites. The study ensures data quality through regular case reviews and annual checks of hospital records using specific diagnosis codes to identify CNS infection cases. Participants are monitored for outcomes using the Glasgow Outcome Scale at various time points depending on the infection type, such as 2 weeks for neurosyphilis and 8 weeks for brain abscess. Data on timing of hospital admission, diagnostic procedures, and antibiotic treatment are collected from hospital records. The studys main measure is the yearly incidence of CNS infections, capturing clinical course and patient outcomes to improve understanding of these serious infections over time.

This research focuses on patients with active Leishmania infection, aiming to diagnose and classify the infection while studying the natural history and host factors contributing to resistant or relapsing disease. The study also investigates the host immune response before and after therapy to better understand disease diagnosis, progression, and treatment response. Patients receive optimal clinical care while contributing valuable samples for laboratory research on leishmanial infections. Participants receive species-based treatment appropriate to their infection. Standard evaluations include biopsies to obtain parasite and host tissue. Following treatment, patients have follow-up visits at 3 months, 6 months remote check-in via photo, telephone, or telehealth, and 12 months to monitor disease progression and treatment response. Additional visits may be scheduled as needed based on clinical status. Samples such as blood, lesion swabs, mucosal swabs, microbiopsies, and skin biopsies are collected for research purposes throughout the study. During the study, participants undergo physical examinations and provide various biological samples for research evaluation. The study tracks clinical and immunologic responses over time, with long-term follow-up beyond one year if clinically necessary. Research measurements include immune workups, genomic data collection, and clinical documentation of disease course to assess treatment safety and effectiveness. Participants can also be evaluated remotely if their physicians can submit required specimens. The total participation duration typically extends to one year post-treatment, with possible annual follow-ups thereafter.

Researchers are studying uveitis, an eye condition, to better understand its causes and the underlying disease mechanisms. This observational study is focused on collecting genetic information from patients with uveitis, including those with infectious forms like toxoplasmosis retinochoroiditis and herpes-associated retinitis. The goal is to analyze DNA to identify genetic mutations or associations linked to the condition. Participants with uveitis will provide blood samples, from which DNA will be isolated and sequenced. The study does not involve treatment or medication but focuses on gathering genetic data from both infectious and non-infectious uveitis patients. The study duration includes a follow-up period of 5 years to observe outcomes related to non-infectious and infectious uveitis. During the study, participants will be involved in blood sample collection for genetic analysis. Researchers will monitor the progression of uveitis over five years to assess genetic links and disease patterns. The study includes participants aged 6 years and older, and healthy volunteers may also participate. Data collected will help improve understanding of uveitis and its genetic factors.

This research focuses on patients with filarial infections, which are caused by parasitic worms transmitted through mosquito bites. The study aims to explore the immune systems response to these infections, including how people become susceptible, develop disease, and respond to treatment. The study includes patients diagnosed with or suspected of having infections such as Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, Onchocerca volvulus, and Loa loa, among others. The research is observational and involves standard medical care without experimental diagnostics or treatments. Participants receive standard treatments like diethylcarbamazine or ivermectin depending on the infection type. Diagnostic tests include routine evaluations and may involve lung, skin, or heart assessments. Some patients might undergo skin biopsies or bronchoalveolar lavage if medically necessary. Additional research procedures include extra blood draws to study immune cells, urine collections, skin allergy tests, and leukapheresis to collect white blood cells in adults. During the study, participants undergo frequent and detailed follow-up evaluations including physical exams and blood tests. Researchers monitor immune responses and clinical outcomes over time, collecting blood and serum samples for laboratory studies. The main goal is to identify markers of infection, treatment responses, and immune regulation over a 10-year period. This long-term observation helps understand disease progression and treatment effects while ensuring patients receive optimal clinical care.

Researchers are collecting information about patients with various infectious diseases to create a detailed database and biobank. This observational study focuses on illnesses such as bloodstream infections, central nervous system infections, bone and joint infections, endovascular infections, sexually transmitted infections, HIV infection, and emerging infectious diseases. The goal is to understand the clinical, laboratory, imaging, and microbiological features as well as treatment approaches, and to study factors affecting treatment success and disease outcomes. Participants will provide biological samples like blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine at the start of their infectious disease diagnosis. Data and samples will be collected at baseline, end of treatment, and six months later, or yearly for HIV patients. Additional collections may occur depending on disease progression or treatment changes. The study will record clinical scores, laboratory results, imaging, treatment details, drug levels, and outcomes including mortality and complications. Participants will be monitored through clinical and laboratory assessments at several time points including baseline, end of treatment, and follow-up visits. Researchers will use these data to analyze disease characteristics, treatment responses, and outcomes over time. The study aims to identify biomarkers, predictors of cure, and factors influencing mortality and complications. Participation involves donating samples and sharing medical information, with follow-up lasting at least six months or longer for some conditions.

Researchers are comparing two ways of giving polymyxin B to treat severe brain infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria CRGNB. The study looks at whether injecting the drug directly into the brain alone or combining this with an intravenous infusion works better to clear the infection and improve patient outcomes. It also measures the levels of polymyxin B in the cerebrospinal fluid CSF to understand how the drug acts in the body. Participants are divided into two groups. One group receives polymyxin B directly into the brain without an IV infusion. The other group receives polymyxin B both directly into the brain and through an IV infusion. All participants have an external ventricular drain to continuously drain CSF, and they must have been receiving polymyxin B treatment for at least five days before joining. During the study, researchers will monitor the 30-day mortality rate, bacterial clearance in the CSF at baseline, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 30 days after starting treatment, and the clinical cure rate at the end of treatment and 30 days afterward. Participants will be followed closely to assess how well the infection clears and to check safety. The study will continue until December 2026.

Researchers are evaluating whether adding the Karius Spectrum12 plasma test to standard diagnostic tests helps diagnose infections faster in immunocompromised adults seen in outpatient settings. The study compares usual care testing alone to usual care plus the Karius Spectrum test, which detects many types of microbial pathogens from a blood sample. The trial includes two groups solid organ transplant patients and those with hematologic malignancies or related treatments. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either the Karius Spectrum test results alongside usual care or usual care testing alone. The Karius Spectrum test analyzes microbial cell-free DNA in plasma to identify over 1,000 pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The study is designed as a basket trial to assess this testing approach across multiple high-risk immunocompromised populations with suspected infections. Participants provide a one-time blood sample within 24 hours of enrollment and are followed for 30 days to record illness information, usual care lab tests, treatments, and any adverse events. Researchers measure the time to identify a pathogen, start targeted treatment, antimicrobial therapy duration, and the proportion of patients receiving pathogen-directed therapy. Safety data are collected through day 30, with participant outcomes tracked in the outpatient setting including telehealth visits.

Toxoplasmosis is a common infection that can be severe enough to require intensive care, especially for people with weakened immune systems. This research aims to evaluate how different anti-infective treatments affect patients with severe forms of toxoplasmosis, including cerebral and disseminated types. It also seeks to identify clinical, biological, and prognostic differences based on the type of underlying immunosuppression in these patients. The study observes patients hospitalized in intensive care with confirmed toxoplasmosis diagnosed using polymerase chain reaction PCR tests from cerebrospinal fluid, blood, bronchoalveolar lavage, or bone marrow samples. It records the use of various treatment regimens such as oral pyrimethamine-sulfadiazine and intravenous treatments like trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or clindamycin combined with pyrimethamine. The study focuses on real-world management without altering treatments and includes patients with at least one organ failure. Participants will be monitored for outcomes including mortality rate in intensive care, hospital mortality, length of stay in intensive care, and duration of mechanical ventilation over an 11-year period. The study collects detailed clinical and biological information to better understand severe toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients. Data reuse is subject to patient consent, and the research is observational with no experimental interventions applied.

Congenital toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which can be passed from an infected mother to her unborn child. While the mother may have mild or no symptoms, the unborn baby may suffer damage to the eyes, nervous system, skin, and ears. Newborns may also have low birth weight, enlarged liver and spleen, jaundice, anemia, petechiae, and eye damage. This phase IV randomized study aims to determine which dosing regimen of the drug pyrimethamine, combined with sulfadiazine and leucovorin calcium, is most effective in treating congenital toxoplasmosis in infants. Infants diagnosed with congenital toxoplasmosis are randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. One group receives a loading dose of oral pyrimethamine, followed by a higher dose for two months and then a lower dose for the remaining 10 months, along with sulfadiazine and leucovorin calcium for 12 months. The loading dose is skipped if the infant had prior prenatal therapy. The second group receives a higher dose of oral pyrimethamine for the first six months, then a lower dose for the rest of the 12 months, with sulfadiazine and leucovorin calcium given at the same time. Pregnant women with fetal infection receive treatment after the first trimester, including spiramycin before diagnosis. Prednisone may be used for active eye inflammation or certain brain fluid abnormalities. Historical control children older than one year who were untreated or treated for less than one month are also included for comparison. Participants are assessed at birth and then followed up at ages 1, 3.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, and 20 years. Researchers monitor motor function abnormalities, vision, hearing, new eye lesions, and cognitive ability measured by IQ scores. Any child requiring treatment for active conditions will receive it. This long-term monitoring helps evaluate the effects of the different pyrimethamine regimens on congenital toxoplasmosis outcomes.