When a person becomes infected with T. gondii , the parasite
forms cysts
that can affect almost any part of the body — often your brain and muscle tissue of different organs, including the heart. If you’re generally healthy, your immune system keeps the parasites in check.
What disease is caused by Toxoplasma gondii?
What is
toxoplasmosis
? Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. While the parasite is found throughout the world, more than 40 million people in the United States may be infected with the Toxoplasma parasite.
Can Toxoplasma gondii kill you?
In these people, dormant toxoplasmosis can reactivate and cause a severe brain infection (encephalitis), which can lead to seizures and other neurological problems. If left untreated, the death rate from encephalitis is
very high
.
Can toxoplasmosis control humans?
To aid this transition from vermin to feline host, Toxoplasma gondii has a pretty disturbing technique: brain manipulation. …
Humans are not immune to Toxoplasma
gondii — in fact, at least a third of the world’s population is thought to have toxoplasmosis, the infection this parasite causes.
What are the long term effects of Toxoplasma gondii?
The long-term or chronic effects of the infection result
when the cysts spread to the brain and muscle cells
. The cysts, which can stay in the body as long as the person lives, can rupture and cause severe illness including damage to the brain, eyes and other organs.
Do all cat owners have toxoplasmosis?
As
many as 30 to 50 percent of all cats
, dogs, and people have already been exposed to toxoplasmosis, meaning their bodies have already made antibodies to it.
What percent of cat owners have toxoplasmosis?
Infection is more common in pets that go outside, hunt, or are fed raw meat. The prevalence of oocyst shedding in cats is very low (0-1%), even though
at least 15-40% of cats
have been infected with Toxoplasma at some point.
Is there a cure for Toxoplasma gondii?
Most healthy people recover from
toxoplasmosis without treatment
. Persons who are ill can be treated with a combination of drugs such as pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, plus folinic acid.
Is Toxoplasma gondii a bacteria or virus?
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a
single-celled protozoan parasite
called Toxoplasma gondii, which usually affects warm-blooded animals, including humans. The infection is most commonly acquired from contact with cats and their feces or with raw or undercooked meat.
Should I get tested for toxoplasmosis?
To find out if you have toxoplasmosis,
your doctor can do a blood test to see if you have those antibodies
. If you’ve been infected recently, your body may not have had time to make them. So even if your test doesn’t show any signs of them, your doctor may want to do another test a few weeks later to be sure.
What does toxoplasmosis do to the brain?
Untreated, these infections can lead to blindness. But if your immune system is weakened, especially as a result of HIV / AIDS , toxoplasmosis can lead to
seizures and life-threatening illnesses such as encephalitis
— a serious brain infection. In people with AIDS , untreated encephalitis from toxoplasmosis is fatal.
Can you get toxoplasmosis from breathing in cat litter?
As the cat feces dry, the oocysts may become aerosolized.
They can thus be inhaled by a person changing cat litter
or just walking in an area where cats have defecated. An outbreak of toxoplasmosis among patrons of a riding stable was thought to have occurred in this manner.
How can toxoplasmosis be prevented?
To reduce risk of toxoplasmosis from the environment:
Avoid drinking untreated water
. Wear gloves when gardening and during any contact with soil or sand because it might be contaminated with cat feces that contain Toxoplasma. Wash hands with soap and water after gardening or contact with soil or sand.
Who is most at risk for toxoplasmosis?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , over 60 million people in the United States are infected with the parasite. The people who are most at risk for serious infections are those
with compromised immune systems and infants born to mothers with active infection during their pregnancy
.
Can Toxocara cause blindness in humans?
Toxocara damage in the eye is permanent and can result in blindness
. A case study published in 2008 supported the hypothesis that eosinophilic cellulitis may also be caused by infection with Toxocara.
Do indoor cats have toxoplasmosis?
In addition, cats kept indoors (that do not hunt prey or are not fed raw meat)
are not likely to be infected with Toxoplasma
. But, if you are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or have a weakened immune system, it is important to protect yourself from infection.
