Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the one-celled protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasmosis is caused by a one-celled protozoan parasite known as Toxoplasm gondii. Cats, the primary carriers ofthe organism, become infected by eating rodents and birds infected with theorganism. Once ingested, the organism reproduces in the intestines of cats, producing millions of eggs, known as oocysts, which are excreted in cat fecesdaily for approximately two weeks. In the United States, it is estimated thatapproximately 30% of cats have been infected by T. gondii. Oocysts are not capable of producing infection until approximately 24 hours after beingexcreted, but they remain infective in water or moist soil for approximatelyone year. When cattle, sheep, or other livestock forage through areas with contaminated cat feces, these animals become carriers of the disease. Fruits and vegetables can also become contaminated when irrigated with untreated water that has been contaminated with cat feces. In humans and other animals, theorganisms produce thick-walled, dormant structures, called cysts, in the muscle and other tissues of the body.

Most humans contract toxoplasmosis by eating cyst-contaminated raw or undercooked meat, vegetables, or milk products. Humans can also become infected whenthey come into contact with the T. gondii eggs while cleaning a cat'slitterbox, gardening, or playing in a sandbox, for instance. Once infected,an individual is immune to reinfection. The incubation period or period between infection and the start of the disease ranges from several days to months.

Healthy individuals do not usually display symptoms. When symptoms do occur,they are usually mild, resembling infectious mononucleosis, and include the following:

  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Muscle pains
  • Fever that comes and goes
  • General ill feeling.

While anyone can be infected by T. gondii, usually only those individuals with weakened immune systems (immunocompromised) develop severe symptomsof the disease. For them, toxoplasmosis can be debilitating, and fatal. Immunocompromised individuals at-risk include those with AIDS, cancer, or other chronic illnesses.

There is no person-to-person transmission, except from an infected mother toher child in the womb. Approximately six out of 1,000 women contract toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. Nearly half of these maternal infections are passed on to the fetus. Known as congenital toxoplasmosis, this form of the disease is acquired at birth by approximately 3,300 infants in the United States everyyear. The risk of fetal infection is estimated to be between one in 1,000 toone in 10,000. In children born with toxoplasmosis, symptoms may be severe and quickly fatal, or may not appear until several months, or even years, after birth.

The distinction is made between acquired toxoplasmosis, where an individual becomes infected, and neonatal congenital toxoplasmosis, where a fetus is bornwith the infection because the mother became infected during pregnancy. If afetus becomes infected early in pregnancy, it can cause the fetus to spontaneously abort, and be stillborn. If full-term, the infant may die in infancy or suffer from central nervous system lesions. If the mother becomes infectedin the last three months of pregnancy, however, the prognosis is good and thebaby may not even display any symptoms.

In adults, if the infection continues for an extended period of time, chronictoxoplasmosis can cause an inflammation of the eyes, called retinochoroiditis, that can lead to blindness, severe yellowing of the skin and whites of theeyes (jaundice), easy bruising, and convulsions. Adults with weakened immunesystems have a high risk of developing cerebral toxoplasmosis, including inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), one-sided weakness or numbness, mood and personality changes, vision disturbances, muscle spasms, and severe headaches. If untreated, cerebral toxoplasmosis can lead to coma and death. This form of encephalitis is the second most common AIDS-related nervous system infection that takes advantage of a person's weakened immune system (opportunistic infection).

A diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is made based on clinical signs and supporting laboratory results, including visualization of the protozoa in body tissue orisolation in animals and blood tests. Laboratory tests for toxoplasmosis aredesigned to detect increased amounts of a protein or antibody produced in response to infection with the toxoplasmosis organism. Antibody levels can be elevated for years, however, without active disease.

Most individuals who contract toxoplasmosis do not require treatment, becausetheir immune systems are able to control the disease. Symptoms are not usually present. Mild symptoms may be relieved by taking over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil). Sore throat lozenges and rest may also ease the symptoms. Although the treatment of women infected with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy is controversial, most physicians feel that treatment is justified. Transmission of toxoplasmosis from the mother to the fetus may be prevented if the mother takes the specific antibiotic therapy. AIDS patients who have not been infected may be given a drug called TMP/SMX (Bactrim or Septra) to prevent toxoplasmosis infection. To treat cases of toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised AIDS patients, antibiotic combinations may effectively treat the disease.

The prognosis is poor when congenital toxoplasmosis is acquired during the first three months of pregnancy. Afflicted children die in infancy or suffer damage to their central nervous systems that can result in physical and mentalretardation. Infection later in pregnancy usually results in only mild symptoms, if any. The prognosis for acquired toxoplasmosis in adults with strong immune systems is excellent. The disease often disappears by itself after several weeks. However, the prognosis for immunodeficient patients is not as positive. These patients often relapse when treatment is stopped. The disease canbe fatal to all immunocompromised patients, especially AIDS patients, and particularly if not treated. As a result, immunocompromised patients are typically placed on anti-toxoplasmosis drugs for the rest of their lives.

There are no drugs that can eliminate T. gondii cysts in animal or human tissues. Humans can reduce their risks of developing toxoplasmosis by practicing the following:

  • Freezing (to 10.4°F/-12°C) and cooking foods to an internal temperature of 152°F/67°C will kill the cysts
  • Practicing sanitary kitchen techniques, such as washing utensils and cutting boards that come into contact with raw meat
  • Keeping pregnant women and children away from household cats and cat litter
  • Disposingof cat feces daily, because the oocysts do not become infective until after 24 hours
  • Helping cats to remain free of infection by feeding them dry, canned, or boiled food and by discouraging hunting and scavenging
  • Washing hands after outdoor activities involving soil contact and wearing gloves when gardening.

User Contributions:

Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic:


Disclaimer
The Content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of Content found on the Website.