Toxoplasmosis Flashcards
What causes Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasma Gondii
Symptoms of Toxoplasmosis
Acute Toxoplasmosis
Latent Toxoplasmosis
Infection of Toxoplasma gondii during pregnancy
Can lead to miscarriage or severe disease in the newborn
- developmental delays, blindness, epilepsy
- younger the fetus the worse the results
- fetus is only vulnerable if mother (seronegative) comes into contact w/Toxoplasma for first time
Infection of Toxoplasma gondii of weakened immune system
- advanced HIV, cancer treatment, after organ transplant
- disease reactivation
- In advanced HIV individuals, inflammation of brain (encephalitis) is common unless long term preventative meds are taken
- poor coordination and seizures
Intended host of Toxoplasmosis
Cats
- are the only host that shed an environmentally resistant form of the organism
- only shed the organism for 2 weeks of its life
Transmission
- Eating poorly cooked food that contains cysts
- exposure to infected cat feces
- congenital toxoplasmosis
- not spread between people
Whos most at risk for infection by Toxoplasmosis
People who eat undercooked meat, drink untreated water, or exposed to contaminated cat feces or soil
Acute Toxoplasmosis
- usually asymptomatic
- influenza like: swollen lymph nodes, headaches, fever, fatigue, muscle aches, pains that last a month
Acute Toxoplasmosis in Immunocompromised individuals
- symptoms: headache, confusion, poor coordination, seizures, lung problems, blurred vision
- may develop severe toxoplasmosis which can result in encephalitis (damage to the brain) or the eyes
Transmission in pregnant women
More chances of acquiring Toxoplasmosis from:
1) unwashed vegetables or fruits
2) Undercooked meat
3) contaminated dirt and not washing hands
then from own CAT
Transmission cycle of definitive host
1) infection comes through eating intermediate host
2) Toxoplasma multiply in the bowel wall
3) infectious materials (oocysts) are emptied w/feces
4) Toxoplasma continues to invade the body and disperse allover
5) Immune system fights back and turns oocysts into cysts which are dormant forms
Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis
Blood work
- seropositive- has been in contact w/Toxoplasma
- seronegative- never seen toxoplasma
Treatment of Toxoplasmosis
Medication is only useful in acute Toxoplasmosis when its dispersing in the body
-cysts will not respond to meds
Treatment of cats
meds reduce the amount of infectious materials produced in feces
Transmission cycle of intermediate host
1) humans ingests feces containing oocysts
2) toxoplasma multiply in the bowel wall
3) Toxoplasma invades the body and disperses all over
4) Immune system fights back and turns oocysts into cysts and are dormant
Humans do not excrete oocysts (infectious material) in waste
