Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis
T. gondii tachyzoites
SpecialtyInfectious disease
SymptomsOften none, during pregnancy (birth defects)[1][2]
CausesToxoplasma gondii[3]
Risk factorsEating poorly cooked food, exposure to infected cat feces[3]
Diagnostic methodBlood test, amniotic fluid test[4]
TreatmentDuring pregnancy spiramycin or pyrimethamine/sulfadiazine and folinic acid[5]
FrequencyUp to 50% of people, 200,000 cases of congenital toxoplasmosis a year[6][7]

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an apicomplexan.[3] Infections with toxoplasmosis are associated with a variety of neuropsychiatric and behavioral conditions.[8] Occasionally, people may have a few weeks or months of mild, flu-like illness such as muscle aches and tender lymph nodes.[1] In a small number of people, eye problems may develop.[1] In those with a weak immune system, severe symptoms such as seizures and poor coordination may occur.[1] If a person becomes infected during pregnancy, a condition known as congenital toxoplasmosis may affect the child.[1]

Toxoplasmosis is usually spread by eating poorly cooked food that contains cysts, by exposure to infected cat feces, or from an infected woman to her baby during pregnancy.[3] Rarely, the disease may be spread by blood transfusion or other organ transplant.[3] It is not otherwise spread between people.[3] The parasite is known to reproduce sexually only in the cat family.[9] However, it can infect most types of warm-blooded animals, including humans.[9] Diagnosis is typically by testing blood for antibodies or by testing the amniotic fluid in a pregnant patient for the parasite's DNA.[4]

Prevention is by properly preparing and cooking food.[10] Pregnant women are also recommended not to clean cat litter boxes or, if they must, to wear gloves and wash their hands afterwards.[10] Treatment of otherwise healthy people is usually not needed.[5] During pregnancy, spiramycin or pyrimethamine/sulfadiazine and folinic acid may be used for treatment.[5]

Up to half of the world's population is infected by T. gondii, but have no symptoms.[7] In the United States, approximately 11% of people have been infected, while in some areas of the world this is more than 60%.[3] Approximately 200,000 cases of congenital toxoplasmosis occur a year.[6] Charles Nicolle and Louis Manceaux first described the organism in 1908.[11] In 1941, transmission during pregnancy from a pregnant woman to her baby was confirmed.[11] There is tentative evidence that otherwise asymptomatic infection may affect people's behavior.[12]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Parasites – Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma infection) Disease". July 10, 2014. Archived from the original on 22 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hunter2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Parasites – Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma infection) Epidemiology & Risk Factors". March 26, 2015. Archived from the original on 23 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Parasites – Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma infection) Diagnosis". January 10, 2013. Archived from the original on 22 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  5. ^ a b c "Parasites – Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma infection) Resources for Health Professionals". April 14, 2014. Archived from the original on 13 September 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  6. ^ a b Torgerson, Paul R; Mastroiacovo, Pierpaolo (2013). "The global burden of congenital toxoplasmosis: a systematic review". Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 91 (7): 501–508. doi:10.2471/BLT.12.111732. PMC 3699792. PMID 23825877.
  7. ^ a b Flegr J, Prandota J, Sovičková M, Israili ZH (March 2014). "Toxoplasmosis—a global threat. Correlation of latent toxoplasmosis with specific disease burden in a set of 88 countries". PLOS ONE. 9 (3): e90203. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...990203F. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0090203. PMC 3963851. PMID 24662942. Toxoplasmosis is becoming a global health hazard as it infects 30–50% of the world human population.
  8. ^ Milne G, Webster JP, Walker M (December 2020). "Toxoplasma gondii: An Underestimated Threat?". Trends in Parasitology. 36 (12): 959–969. doi:10.1016/j.pt.2020.08.005. PMID 33012669. Accumulating evidence suggests that latent infection of Toxoplasma gondii is associated with a variety of neuropsychiatric and behavioral conditions.
  9. ^ a b "Parasites – Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma infection) Biology". March 17, 2015. Archived from the original on 28 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Parasites – Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma infection) Prevention & Control". January 10, 2013. Archived from the original on 22 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  11. ^ a b Ferguson DJ (2009). "Toxoplasma gondii: 1908–2008, homage to Nicolle, Manceaux and Splendore". Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. 104 (2): 133–48. doi:10.1590/S0074-02762009000200003. hdl:1807/57623. PMID 19430635.
  12. ^ Tyebji, S; Seizova, S; Hannan, AJ; Tonkin, CJ (January 2019). "Toxoplasmosis: A pathway to neuropsychiatric disorders". Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. 96: 72–92. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.11.012. PMID 30476506. S2CID 53726244.