Toxoplasmosis, A Protozoon Disease

Toxoplasmosis is an emerging and re-emerging zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which is one of the most prevalent parasites in the world. Globally, one third of human population suffer from toxoplasmosis. The disease is usually transmitted by eating infected meat that has been improperly cooked or baked, exposure to the feces of sick cats, or from mother to child during pregnancy. Transmission can also occur by ingestion of unpasteurized milk and contaminated water with the protozoa. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts or tissue cysts inadvertently enter the human body through food or water Transmission from mother to fetus can also occur congenitally. Transmission can also occur through organ transplantation or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Individuals infected with Toxoplasma gondii often remain unaware of their infection. Yet, a minority of individuals may exhibit flu-like manifestations such as body aches, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, fever, fatigue, confusion, lack of coordination, and seizures. Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in humans is made by biological, serologic, histologic, or molecular techniques, or a combination of these techniques. Treatment is recommended only for people with serious health problems. This includes people with HIV, as the disease is most severe when a person's immune system is compromised. Infection with Toxoplasma gondii can be prevented by avoiding drinking contaminated water and wearing gloves when gardening, as soil or sand may contain cat feces containing Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasmosis is an important emerging and re-emerging zoonotic disease that results from the infection with Toxoplasma gondii, which is one of the most common parasites in the world. The disease usually happens through consuming undercooked contaminated meat, exposure from diseased cat feces, or mother-to-child transmission all through pregnancy. Toxoplasmosis is commonly transmitted via the mouth when Toxoplasma gondii oocysts or tissue cysts are eaten by chance. Congenital transmission from mother to fetus can also arise. Transmission can arise from the stable organ transplant manner or hematogenous stem cellular transplants. The majority of individuals infected with toxoplasmosis, has no signs and symptoms and is not aware of being infected. However, some people show symptoms and signs similar to those of the flu, inclusive of body aches, swollen lymph nodes, headache, fever, fatigue, confusion, poor coordination, and seizures. Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in human beings is made through organic, serological, histological, or molecular techniques, or with the aid of combining these techniques. The treatment is commonly encouraged for humans with serious health issues, inclusive of human beings with HIV.The infection may be prevented by eating of cooked meat, drinking wholesome potable water, pasteurization of milk, cleaning of vegetables, wearing gloves when gardening, periodic examination of pregnant women, and health education to the public about the reservoir of infection, mode of transmission and hazards of consuming raw meat.

2016

Comprehended review was done to discuss about toxoplasmosis in animals and human.

2014

Toxoplasmosis is a protozoal disease, which is capable of infecting any warm-blooded animals, including humans. Wild and domestic cats are the only known definitive hosts of Toxoplasma; they can develop both systemic and patent intestinal infection. All other animals and humans serve as intermediate hosts in which the parasite may cause systemic infection, which typically results in the formation of tissue cysts. In all species, Toxoplasma infection is usually subclinical, although it may occasionally cause mild, non specific signs. Infection may have much more serious consequences in immunocompromised or pregnant animals and people and AIDS patients. The major modes of transmission include consumption of undercooked meat containing Toxoplasma cysts, fecal-oral transfer of Toxoplasma oocysts from cat feces (either directly or in contaminated food, water or soil), and vertical transmission from mother to fetus if primary infection occurs during pregnancy. The major public health sign...

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is one of the most common global parasitic zoonoses of great public health and economic importance. Nearly one-third of human population has been exposed to this parasite. In most adults, it does not produce serious illness, but it can cause blindness and mental retardation in congenitally infected children and devastating disease in immunocompromised individuals. Toxoplasmosis ranks high on the list of diseases that lead to the death of patients with AIDS. Among the food animals, T. gondii infections are more prevalent in pigs, sheep, and goats than in cattle. Toxoplasmosis causes considerable economic losses to the sheep industry worldwide. Clinical signs of toxoplasmosis are non-specific and are not sufficiently characteristic for a definite diagnosis. Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is made by biological, serological, histological, molecular methods, or by some combination of the above. To prevent food-borne horizontal transmission of T. gondii to humans, meat and other edible parts of animals should not be consumed raw or undercooked. Pregnant women, especially, should avoid contact with cats, soil and raw meat. Serological screening of pregnant women is an effective strategy to prevent prenatal infections of T. gondii to their children. Extreme care should be used in handling litter boxes used by cat. The development of a simple, sensitive, rapid and cheap method for the detection and identification of T.gondii is highly imperative for the diagnosis and epidemiological studies of toxoplasmosis. In addition, health education of the public about source of infection, the mode of transmission, severity of disease, and preventive measures is also emphasized.

International Journal of Livestock Research, 2014

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is one of the most common global parasitic zoonoses of great public health and economic importance. Nearly one-third of human population has been exposed to this parasite. In most adults, it does not produce serious illness, but it can cause blindness and mental retardation in congenitally infected children and devastating disease in immunocompromised individuals. Toxoplasmosis ranks high on the list of diseases that lead to the death of patients with AIDS. Among the food animals, T. gondii infections are more prevalent in pigs, sheep, and goats than in cattle. Toxoplasmosis causes considerable economic losses to the sheep industry worldwide. Clinical signs of toxoplasmosis are non-specific and are not sufficiently characteristic for a definite diagnosis. Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is made by biological, serological, histological, molecular methods, or by some combination of the above. To prevent food-borne horizontal transmission of T. gondii to humans, meat and other edible parts of animals should not be consumed raw or undercooked. Pregnant women, especially, should avoid contact with cats, soil and raw meat. Serological screening of pregnant women is an effective strategy to prevent prenatal infections of T. gondii to their children. Extreme care should be used in handling litter boxes used by cat. The development of a simple, sensitive, rapid and cheap method for the detection and identification of T.gondii is highly imperative for the diagnosis and epidemiological studies of toxoplasmosis. In addition, health education of the public about source of infection, the mode of transmission, severity of disease, and preventive measures is also emphasized.

Research & Reviews: Journal of Biology, 2017

The genus toxoplasma has a single species, Toxoplasma gondii, which is an intestinal coccidian of cats. The life cycle includes a facultative systemic phase, which is an important cause of abortion in sheep and may also cause a zoonosis. Natural infection has been described in almost every mammalian order, including over 19 species of captive and free-ranging ungulates. All felids, but the domestic cat is the most important final host for the parasite and any other mammals including man, or birds are the intermediate hosts. Fortunately, the pathological changes are relatively uncommon and most toxoplasma infections in animals and man are light and consequently asymptomatic. Human infections are particularly serious if they occur during pregnancy and may result in abortion or congenitally acquired disorders, which primarily affect the central nervous system. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of immunoglobulin G antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii has been determined by enzyme linked immunosorb...

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii. Infections with toxoplasmosis usually cause no symptoms in adult humans. It is characterized in humans by a few weeks or months of mild flu-like illness such as muscle aches and tender lymph nodes. In some cases, ocular complications may also develop. The mild symptoms may progress to seizures and in coordination in movements in patients with weaker immune response. The condition of congenital toxoplasmosis proves fatal for carrying mothers during pregnancy.

Emerging Infectious Diseases