NAVLE 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Toxoplasmosis poses a significant risk to pregnant women due to the potential for serious birth defects in the fetus. This parasitic infection is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which can be transmitted through various routes, including exposure to contaminated food, soil, or cat feces. When a woman becomes infected during pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester, the parasite can cross the placenta and lead to congenital toxoplasmosis.

Congenital toxoplasmosis can result in a range of severe outcomes, including hydrocephalus, chorioretinitis, and intracranial calcifications, which can have lasting impacts on a child's development and health. Thus, the concern for pregnant women revolves primarily around these potential teratogenic effects.

Other conditions listed, while they may have implications for maternal health, do not have the same direct and severe impact on fetal development as toxoplasmosis. Leptospirosis may lead to maternal illness and complications but not specifically to fetal anomalies. Similarly, brucellosis can cause complications during pregnancy but is less associated with birth defects, and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, primarily affecting animals, does not present a known risk for congenital abnormalities in humans. Overall, the specific threat that toxoplas