Toxoplasmosis is caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It is commonly found in cats and other warm-blooded animals. Most infections in humans are asymptomatic, but it poses risks for pregnant women and those with weak immune systems. Symptoms can include flu-like illness, eye disease, and central nervous system problems. Congenital infection from mother to fetus during pregnancy can cause severe consequences for the baby such as brain and eye issues. Diagnosis is through antibody tests and treatment involves antibiotics.

1. •
TOXOPLASMOSIS
Class: ph NM Mlt
Subject: Parasitology 4
Lecturer: Dr Roble j.Moh’ud

2. TOXOPLASMOSIS
Etiology
Toxoplasma gondii is the organism responsible for
toxoplasmosis, including congenital
toxoplasmosis
Epidemiology
Toxoplasma has worldwide distribution and 20%-
75% of the population is seropositive without any
symptomatic episode. However, the infection
poses a serious threat in immunosuppressed
individuals and pregnant females.

3. Cont..
Toxoplasmosis is considered to be a leading cause of death
attributed to foodborne illness
• in the United States. More than 40 million
• men, women, and children in the U.S. carry
the Toxoplasma parasite, but very few have symptoms
because the immune system usually keeps the parasite from
causing illness. However, women newly infected
with Toxoplasma during or shortly before pregnancy and
anyone with compromised immune system should be aware
• That toxoplasmosis can have severe consequences

4. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite most
often found in cats and farm animals. Humans can catch
this disease from:
– coming into contact with infected cat feces
– eating raw or undercooked meat that’s infected
– eating contaminated vegetables or fruits
– being born with it
• Note: Once a person is infected, the infection remains in
the body for life, usually in an inactive form. It can
reactivate when that person’s immune system is weak.

5. Morphology

8. Life Cycle:
• Two phases
• Intestinal and
• extraintestinal

9. • The definitive host is the cat , humans and
other mammals are intermediate hosts.
• Infections of humans begins with the ingestion
of cysts from contact with cat faeces.
• In the small intestine, the cysts rupture and
release forms that invade the gut wall, where
they are ingested by macrophages and
differentiate in to rapidly multiplying
trophozoites(tachyzoites), which will kill the
cells and infect other cells.

10. • Cell mediated immunity usually limits the
spread of tachyzoites and the parasites
• enter host cells in the brain, muscle and other
tissues, where they develop
• into cysts
in which the parasites multiply slowly.
These forms are called bradyzoites.

11. About 98% of cases of Toxoplasmosis are acquired
through Congenital Toxoplasmosis

12. Clinical findings
• Most primary infections in immunocompetent adults are
asymptomatic.
• Congenital infection can result in abortions, stillbirth, or neonatal
disease with encephalitis , and hepatosplenomegaly
• Fever, jaundice are also seen
• Congenital infection with toxoplasma is one of the leading causes of
blindness in children
• Inapparent or mild flu-like illness (most cases)
• Fetal death and mental retardation, blindness,
• epilepsy. May not manifest for years
• • Ocular toxoplasmosis
• • Severe encephalitis

13. encephalitis

14. Diagnosis
Suspected toxoplasmosis can be confirmed by isolation
of the organism from tonsil or lymph gland biopsy.
An immunofluoresence assay for IgM antibody is used
to diagnose congenital infection
Treatment
Acute infections benefit from pyrimethamine or sulphadiazine.
Spiramycin is a successful alternative
prevention
Pregnant women are advised to avoid cat litter and to handle
uncooked and undercooked
.

15. Risk Factors
• Toxoplasmosis is not passed from person-to-person,
except in instances of mother-to-child (congenital)
transmission and blood transfusion or organ
transplantation. People typically become infected by
three principal routes of transmission:
• Foodborne
• Animal-to-human (zoonotic)
Mother-to-child (congenital)
• Rare instances

16. cont
Foodborne transmission
• Eating undercooked, contaminated meat (especially pork, lamb, and venison)
• Animal-to-human (zoonotic) transmission
• Accidental ingestion of oocysts in contaminated soil (e.g., not washing hands after gardening
or eating unwashed fruits or vegetables from a garden)
• Mother-to-child (congenital) transmission
• A woman who is newly infected with Toxoplasma during or just before pregnancy can pass the infection
to her unborn child (congenital infection). The woman may not have symptoms, but there can be severe
consequences for the unborn child, such as diseases of the nervous system and eyes.
• Rare instances of transmission
• Organ transplant recipients can become infected by receiving an organ from a Toxoplasma-
positive donor. Rarely, people can also become infected by receiving infected blood via
transfusion. Laboratory workers who handle infected blood can also acquire infection
through accidental inoculation

17. Symptoms
Most people infected with toxoplasmosis do
not have any symptoms. They often don't
know they're infected. Some people have
flu-like symptoms, including:
• Fever.
• Swollen lymph nodes that may last for weeks.
• Headache.
• Muscle aches
.Skin rash.

19. Symptoms of eye disease
• The toxoplasma parasites may infect
tissues of the inner eye. This can occur in
people with healthy immune systems. But
the disease is more serious in people with
weakened immunity. An infection in the
eye is called ocular toxoplasmosis.
Symptoms may include:
• Eye pain.
• Poor vision.
Untreated eye disease can cause blindness.

20. Effect on people with weakened
immune systems
They have more-serious disease from toxoplasmosis. A
toxoplasmosis infection from earlier in life may become
active again. People at risk include those living with
HIV/AIDS, people receiving cancer treatment and people
with a transplanted organ.
• In addition to serious eye disease, toxoplasmosis can
cause severe lung or brain disease for a person with
weakened immunity. Rarely, the infection can show up
in other tissues throughout the body.
• Lung infection may cause:
• Breathing problems.
• Fever.
• Cough.

21. Cont…
• Toxoplasmosis may cause inflammation of the
brain, also called encephalitis. Symptoms may
include:
• Confusion.
• Poor coordination.
• Muscle weakness.
• Seizures.

22. Effect on fetus or
infant
Toxoplasmosis can pass from the mother to the fetus
during a pregnancy. This is called congenital
toxoplasmosis.
• Infection during the first trimester often causes more-
severe disease. It also may result in miscarriage. For
some babies with toxoplasmosis, serious disease may
be present at birth or appear early in infancy. Medical
problems may include:
• Too much fluid in or around the brain, also called
hydrocephalus.
• Severe eye infection.
• Irregularities in brain tissues.
• An enlarged liver or spleen.

23. Symptoms of severe disease vary.
They may include:
• Problems with mental or motor skills.
• Blindness or other vision problems.
• Hearing problems.
• Seizures.
• Heart disorders.
• Yellowing of the skin and whites of
the eyes, also called jaundice.
• Rash.

24. Cont..
• Most babies with toxoplasmosis do not
show symptoms. But problems may show
up later in childhood or teenage years.
These include:
• Return of eye infections.
• Problems with motor skill development.
• Problems with thinking and learning.
• Hearing loss.
• Slowed growth.
• Early puberty.

25. Congenital toxoplasmosis