Acute acquired toxoplasmosis presenting as polymyositis and chorioretinitis in immunocompetent patient

The parasite Toxoplasma gondii mainly encysts in brain, retina, myocardium, and skeletal muscle. It has been implicated in the genesis of inflammatory myopathies for years, but the parasite usually cannot be detected in the muscle. It is established, however, that toxoplasmosis can cause myositis either by recent infection or by reactivation. The case of a non-HIV patient who developed an acute polymyositis upon infection by T. gondii is reported. We suggest that all patients with polymyositis should have serological tests for toxoplasmosis as a part of their initial evaluation and early trial of antiprotozoal therapy in case of positive findings. (C) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All fights reserved.