Toxoplasma gondii

Parasitology Dept.

trophozoite

- obligate intracellular coccidian parasite

- complex life cycle; intestinal and tissue phases
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About Toxoplasma gondii

An obligate intracellular parasite
Has very low host specificity, probably
infect almost any mammal (warm bloodedanimals)
Has also been reported from birds
Two phases of life cycle:
intestinal/enteroepithelial and
extraintestinal phases
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About Toxoplasma gondii

Intestinal phase occurs in cats only (both
wild and domesticated ones) produces
oocyst
Extraintestinal phase occurs in all
infected animals produces tachyzoit
(trophozoit) and zoitocyst (bradyzoit)

About Toxoplasma gondii

Oocyst: produced in cats intestine through gametogony

(sexually reproduction). Each oocyst contains two
sporocysts
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About Toxoplasma gondii

Tachyzoites: note the characteristic crescent type! It can

infect any cell and body tissue but erythrocyte
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About Toxoplasma gondii

Zoitocysts filled with bradyzoites

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Life cycle

Toxoplasmosis

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What is Toxoplasmosis?
Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by
Toxoplasma gondii
Toxoplasma infection is common, but fullblown disease is rare
Its important because virtually all warmblooded animals, including man, can
become infected with it
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What is Toxoplasmosis?
Cats have 20% to 60% infection rate with
Toxoplasma gondii
Its most common in cats less than two years old,
possibly because of their poorly developed
immune response
In older cats, recurrent infections may be due to
the presence of feline leukemia virus or feline
immunodeficiency virus, which suppress its
immune response
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What is Toxoplasmosis?
Two ways of infection:
1. Transplacental (congenital) has been the
greatest concern. In mothers who first
acquire Toxoplasma infection during their
pregnancy, about 1/3 to of their infants
are also infected, and more severe if it
occurs during the first trimester
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What is Toxoplasmosis?
2. Acquired Toxoplasmosis, occurs via oocysts
or bradyzoits. Infection via oocysts occurs
through cats feces, and via bradyzoits
occurs when human ingested, inhaled, or
inoculated with raw or undercooked meat
product

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Pathology of Toxoplasmosis
In healthy children and adults, toxoplasmosis may
cause no symptoms at all, or may cause a mild
illness (swollen lymph glands, fever, headache, and
muscle ache)
Under some conditions, it may cause a serious
pathology, including hepatitis, pneumonia,
blindness, and severe neurological disorder. This is
especially true in immunocompromised host (e.g.
AIDS patients)
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Pathology of Toxoplasmosis
Transplacentally toxoplasmosis can be
resulting in a spontaneous abortion, a still
born, or congenital disorders
In symptomatic individuals, symptoms may
appear at different times: at birth, or weeks,
months, or even years after (undiagnosed in
younger age), and subclinical infection

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Congenital Toxoplasmosis
Clinical symptom of congenital toxoplasmosis
is called Tetrad Sabin:
1. hydrocephalus
2. chorioretinitis
3. cerebral calcification
4. mental retardation

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Congenital Toxoplasmosis
Subclinical acquired toxoplasmosis (silent
infection)
TORCH as one of the causes
Not every infected female suffers of
symptoms
Silent infection may cause infertility

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Cerebral
Toxoplasmosis
General
Etiology : Toxoplasma gondii
Cerebral toxoplasmosis is
one of the most common
opportunistic neurological
infections in AIDS patients.
It is also directly related to
the prevalence of anti-T
gondii antibodies in the
general population

DEWI M.DARLAN 1/26/2009

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Cerebral
Toxoplasmosis

Pathogenesis

Cerebral toxoplasmosis usually represents

reactivation of chronic infection.
Reactivation possibly results from the
rupture
of a cyst.
Normally the bradyzoites destroyed by the
hosts immune responses.
In immunosuppressive patient, rupture of
cyst may result in renewed multiplication.

Diagnosis
1.
2.
3.
4.

Tissue biopsy or body liquid punction

Culture in chicken embryo
Mice inoculation
Serologic analysis: Sabin Feldman Dye test,
Toxoplasmin skin test, CF test,
hemaglutination, immunofluoresence

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Prevention of Toxoplasmosis

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Preventive Treatment
Restrict pet cats from rodents, birds, and
undercooked meat, and scavenge in garbage
cans
Cook meat until well done
Eliminate cross-contamination from raw
foods

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Preventive Treatment
Wash hands thoroughly after working with
soil, before and after handling foods, and
before eating
Immunocompromised persons and pregnant
women should be particularly careful to avoid
contact with cat feces and soil and to avoid
ingestion of undercooked meats

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Medicament
Pyrimethamine
Sulfadiazine
Pyrimethamine + sulfadiazine
Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprime
Spiramycin, Clindamycin
No vaccine is available as yet

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Thank you
You are the target of the test!

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