TOXOPLASMOSIS A Risk In Pregnancy

What is Toxoplasmosis?  It is an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii

What causes Toxoplasmosis?  The protozoan Toxoplasmosis gondii, is a coccidian, obligate, intracellular parasite responsible for zoonotic infections in man and other mammals

Life Cycle:  Two phases  Intestinal and extraintestinal

Toxoplasmosis gondii  Oocysts- Only members of the cat family shed oocysts

Toxoplasmosis gondii  Trophozoites- Tachyzoites are the actively proliferating trophozoites, which are observed during the acute stage of infection

Toxoplasmosis gondii  Tissue cysts: Tissue cysts are found most commonly in the brain and in skeletal and cardiac muscle but can occur in any organ

Signs and Symptoms:  Fever  Sore throat  Sore muscles  Tiredness  Swollen glands  Temporary blurred vision or loss of vision

Diagnosis:  Serological tests  Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)  Histological demonstration of the parasite and or its antigens (i.e. immunoperoxidase stain)  Isolation of the organism

Treatment:  Treatment should be developed in consultation with an obstetrician and infectious disease specialist  Combinations of anti-toxoplasmosis medications (plus leurovorin)  Hospitalization may be necessary

Prevention:  Wear gloves when handling soil  Wash hands with soap and water after outdoor activities  When preparing raw meat, wash any cutting boards, sinks, knives and other utensils that touched the raw meat thoroughly with soap and hot water to avoid contaminating other foods  Cook all meats thoroughly

Prevention:  Keep cats indoors and feed them dry or canned food rather than allowing them to have access to wild birds and rodents

Prevention:  Clean litter box everyday (because the parasite found in cat feces needs one or more days after it is past to become infectious)  Thoroughly wash hands after cleaning litter box