TOXOPLASMA GONDII
I have a personal interest in studying Toxplasmosis Ghandi since there is some interesting information on this sneaky and dangerous parasite. This intracellular coccidian protozoan parasite infects felids, such as the cat. They also infect humans and other animals. These parasites are excreted only by cats which are the definitive hosts. Noninfective oocytes are released in the infected cat’s feces and sporulate within 1 or more days depending on where the excrement is. They can live in many conditions for months and they are able to survive in soils, freezing and dry conditions. They are infectors of warm blooded animals like humans. After the sporulated oocytes are eaten by the host, they are able to release sporozoites and these infect the gut lumen, becoming tachyzoites. These multiply in the body in many places and they are often tissue encysted becoming bradyzoites. Many locations will make these tissue cysts but the nervous system, edible organs and muscles striated and smooth are often infected. These cysts may survive as long as the host. All of the hosts can ingest tissue cysts and become infected. Within 18 hours, they become tachyzoites and the cycle begins again. In the cat, though, the cycle includes an asexual cycle and a sexual cycle. This creates an oocytes. Within 3 days, the feline intestine can support both cycles.
This cycle can also be passed on from mother to child. It can also cause the fetus to be killed. Congenital infections happen in goats, sheep and even humans. The hosts may show a variety of infection symptoms such as severe or asymptomatic. If someone is born with it, the symptoms are more severe, resulting in chorioretinitis, hydrocephalus, mental retardation and jaundice. Chorioretinitis is the most common symptom, and this is when the choroid of the eye and retina become inflamed. It is called chorioretinitis if only the choroid is inflamed. In sheep and goats, it can kill the fetus. It may be mummified, macerated, stillborn, aborted or weak and die. It has happened in cats, dogs and pigs. Cattle and horses seem to not be affected by sever congenital T. gondii. It is the leading cause of Australian marsupials, in zoos particularly.
In those who are immunocompromised, it is dangerous and could put someone’s life at risk. It can cause flu like symptoms and lymphadenopathy. Fever, muscle pains, joint pains, fatigue, headaches, maculopapular rash, abdominal pain, loss of vision and nausea are all potential risks. It can be diagnostic histologically, serologically or biologically or by examining tissue cultures. If antibodies are found, this helps in the diagnosis. There are many ways of finding antibodies. Treatment with sulfadiazine and pyrmethamine (Daraprim) are often used when humans get toxoplamsmosis. They do not work on tissue cysts, only on the multiplying tachyzoites. It can be used in some places to keep the parasite from going to the fetus from the mother. Hands need to be washed and cleaned after meat is handled. Proper cleaning of sinks, knives, cutting boards and any other material that contacts uncooked meat, should be washed and thoroughly cleaned with soap and water. Cook meet to 66 Degrees Celcius to ensure the meat is cooked well enough. Raw meat should not be tasted. Avoid contact with cat feces if pregnant. Litter, soil and raw meat should also be avoided by pregnant women. Cats should not be fed raw bones meat or viscera and hunting should be discouraged. Cover trash cans. Freeze meet overnight and this can help kill tissue cysts. Spay and neuter cats and remove any dead animals to ensure cats do not get to them.
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