TOXOPLASMOSISTOXOPLASMOSIS

A Risk In PregnancyA Risk In Pregnancy

What is Toxoplasmosis?What is Toxoplasmosis?

It is an infection caused by the parasite It is an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondiiToxoplasma gondii

What causes What causes Toxoplasmosis?Toxoplasmosis?

The protozoan The protozoan Toxoplasmosis gondii, Toxoplasmosis gondii, is is a coccidian, obligate, intracellular a coccidian, obligate, intracellular parasite responsible for zoonotic parasite responsible for zoonotic infections in man and other mammals infections in man and other mammals

Life Cycle:Life Cycle:

Two phasesTwo phases Intestinal and extraintestinal Intestinal and extraintestinal

Toxoplasmosis gondiiToxoplasmosis gondii

OocystsOocysts- Only members of the cat family - Only members of the cat family shed oocysts shed oocysts

Toxoplasmosis gondiiToxoplasmosis gondii

Trophozoites-Trophozoites- Tachyzoites are the Tachyzoites are the actively proliferating trophozoites, which actively proliferating trophozoites, which are observed during the acute stage of are observed during the acute stage of infection infection

Toxoplasmosis gondiiToxoplasmosis gondii

Tissue cystsTissue cysts: Tissue cysts are found : Tissue cysts are found most commonly in the brain and in most commonly in the brain and in skeletal and cardiac muscle but can skeletal and cardiac muscle but can occur in any organ occur in any organ

Signs and Symptoms: Signs and Symptoms:

FeverFever Sore throatSore throat Sore musclesSore muscles TirednessTiredness Swollen glands Swollen glands Temporary blurred vision or loss of vision Temporary blurred vision or loss of vision

Diagnosis: Diagnosis:

Serological tests Serological tests Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Histological demonstration of the parasite Histological demonstration of the parasite

and or its antigens (i.e. and or its antigens (i.e. immunoperoxidase stain) immunoperoxidase stain)

Isolation of the organism Isolation of the organism

Treatment: Treatment:

Treatment should be developed in Treatment should be developed in consultation with an obstetrician and consultation with an obstetrician and infectious disease specialist infectious disease specialist

Combinations of anti-toxoplasmosis Combinations of anti-toxoplasmosis medications (plus leurovorin) medications (plus leurovorin)

Hospitalization may be necessaryHospitalization may be necessary

Prevention: Prevention:

Wear gloves when handling soilWear gloves when handling soil Wash hands with soap and water after outdoor Wash hands with soap and water after outdoor

activitiesactivities When preparing raw meat, wash any cutting When preparing raw meat, wash any cutting

boards, sinks, knives and other utensils that boards, sinks, knives and other utensils that touched the raw meat thoroughly with soap and touched the raw meat thoroughly with soap and hot water to avoid contaminating other foodshot water to avoid contaminating other foods

Cook all meats thoroughlyCook all meats thoroughly

Prevention:Prevention:

Keep cats indoors and feed them dry or Keep cats indoors and feed them dry or canned food rather than allowing them to canned food rather than allowing them to have access to wild birds and rodentshave access to wild birds and rodents

Prevention:Prevention:

Clean litter box everyday (because the Clean litter box everyday (because the parasite found in cat feces needs one or parasite found in cat feces needs one or more days after it is past to become more days after it is past to become infectious)infectious)

Thoroughly wash hands after cleaning Thoroughly wash hands after cleaning litter boxlitter box