Toxoplasma Gondii

ANGEL SARA THANGAMUNI

YR1.2 GR-7
TAXONOMICAL CLASSIFICATION
KINGDOM: Protista
SUB KINGDOM: Protozoa
PHYLUM: Apicomplexa
CLASS: Sporozoasida
ORDER: Eucoccidiorida
FAMILY: Sarcocystidae
GENUS: Toxoplasma
SPECIES: Gondii
MORPHOLOGY
The following are the morphological stages that are exhibited by
T.Gondii:
 Sporulated oocysts (Sporocyst Sporozoites)
 Trophozoites
 Merozoites
 Micro (M) & Macro (F) Gametes
 Bradyzoites
 Tachyzoites
 Zoitocysts (Tissue Cyst)
 A zoitocyst of Toxoplasma
gondii filled with bradyzoites;
this zoitocyst is in cardiac
muscle

A sporulated oocyst of Toxoplasma

gondii. The oocyst contains two
sporocysts, each of which contain four Tachyzoites of Toxoplasma
sporozoites. Only cats will produce and gondii.
pass Toxoplasma oocysts; approximate Note the characteristic crescent
diameter = 10 µm. shape.
HOST RANGE
DEFINITIVE HOST-
• Felines serve as definitive hosts for this parasite.
• It is in the felines that these parasites reproduce sexually
• Adult forms of these parasites are found in these mammals.

INTERMEDIATE HOST-
• A diverse range of vertebral mammals such as carnivores, herbivores, insectivores,
rodents, pigs, primates (including humans) and occasionally birds serve as intermediate
hosts for T.Gondii.
• In these organisms, T.Gondii reproduces asexually and therefore immature forms of the
parasite resides in them.
• These hosts are also called PARATENIC HOSTS.
LOCALISATION OF PARASITE INSIDE
HOST
 Felines – in Intestinal Epithelial Cells
 Vertebral Mammals – Muscle, Lymph nodes
INFECTIVE STAGE
• Sporozoites is the infective stage of T.Gondii which undergoes
transformation and reproduction to cause infection
LIFE CYCLE
• The life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii consists of
two phases, an intestinal phase and an
extraintestinal phase. The intestinal phase occurs
only in cats (wild and domesticated cats), and
results in the production of oocysts.

• The extraintestinal phase occurs in all infected

animals (simultaneously with the intestinal phase
in cats), and results in the production of
tachyzoites and, eventually, bradyzoites. The
disease toxoplasmosis can be transmitted by
ingestion of either oocysts (in the feces of cats) or
bradyzoites (in raw or undercooked meat).
TRANSMISSION ROUTE
ADULTS
o Most commonly acquire toxoplasmosis by eating raw or undercooked meat infected with tissue cysts.
o Consumption of contaminated, unpasteurized milk has been implicated.
o Unfiltered water in developing countries can also be contaminated and cause outbreaks.

CHILDREN
o May become infected by ingestion of oocysts in dirt or sandpit sand after fecal contamination by cats,
particularly kittens, or other animals.

The infection may also be transmitted through blood transfusion and organ
transplantation. Transplacental transmission may occur when a woman has a
primary infection during pregnancy.
TYPE OF PARASITE
Toxoplasma Gondii is:
 Parasitic
 Obligatory
 Intracellular
 Endoparasite
 Unicellular
TOXOPLASMOSIS

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii.

It can be found in cat feces and undercooked meat, especially venison, lamb, and
pork. It can also be transmitted through contaminated water.
Toxoplasmosis can be deadly or cause serious birth defects for a fetus if the
mother becomes infected.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted
Source, 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
MECHANISM OF PATHOGENITY
Most cases of toxoplasmosis in humans are probably acquired by the ingestion of
either tissue cysts in infected meat or oocysts in food contaminated with cat feces.
Bradyzoites from the tissue cysts or sporozoites released from oocysts penetrate
the intestinal epithelial cells and multiply in the intestine.
Toxoplasma gondii may spread both locally to mesenteric lymph nodes and to
distant organs by invading the lymphatics and blood.
Necrosis in intestinal and mesenteric lymph nodes may occur before other organs
become severely damaged.
Focal areas of necrosis may develop in many organs.
• The clinical picture is determined by the extent of injury
to these organs, especially to vital and vulnerable organs
such as the eye, heart, and adrenals.
• Toxoplasma gondii does not produce a toxin; necrosis is
caused by intracellular multiplication of tachyzoites.
• Opportunistic toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients usually
represents reactivation of chronic infection.
• The predominant lesion of toxoplasmosis - encephalitis
in these patients is necrosis, which often results in
multiple abscesses, some as large as a tennis ball
SYMPTOMS
Usually, those who’ve been infected with the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis
show no signs or symptoms.
People who develop symptoms may experience:
• a fever
• swollen lymph nodes, especially in the neck
• a headache
• muscle aches and pains
• sore throat
These symptoms can last for a month or more and usually resolve on their own.
Toxoplasmosis is especially serious for people who have weakened immune
systems. For these people, they’re at risk of developing:
o brain inflammation, causing headaches, seizures, confusion and coma.
o a lung infection, causing cough, fever, and shortness of breath
o an eye infection, causing blurry vision and eye pain
When a fetus is infected, the symptoms may be mild or quite serious.
o Toxoplasmosis in an unborn baby can be life-threatening for the baby soon after birth.
o Most newborns with congenital toxoplasmosis may appear normal at birth but can develop
signs and symptoms as they age.
o It’s particularly important to check for involvement in their brain and eyes.
DIAGNOSIS
Doctor will typically perform a blood test to check for
antibodies to this parasite. Antigens tested include:
• viruses
• bacteria
• parasites
• Fungi

Other body fluids such as CSF may also be checked in order to

test the presence of T. Gondii.
If you’ve ever been exposed to T. gondii, antibodies will be
present in your blood. This means you will test positive for the
antibodies. If your tests come back positive, then you’ve been
infected with this disease at some point in your life. A positive
result doesn’t necessarily mean that you currently have an
May be detected in autopsy or biopsy material
Most infections, however, are diagnosed serologically
If you’re pregnant and have an active infection, your doctor may test your
amniotic fluid and the fetus’ blood. An ultrasound can also help determine
whether the fetus has been infected.
If your fetus is diagnosed with toxoplasmosis, you’ll probably be referred to a
specialist. Genetic counseling will also be suggested. The option of ending the
pregnancy, depending on the gestational age of the baby, may be offered as a
possibility. If you continue the pregnancy, your doctor will likely prescribe
antibiotics to help reduce your baby’s risk of symptoms.
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
Worldwide, one of the most common human infections.
More common in warm climates.
High prevalence in France and C. America.
Over 60 million people in the United States are infected with the parasite.
PREVENTION
Certain precautions can help prevent toxoplasmosis:
• Wear gloves when you garden or handle soil. Wear gloves whenever you
work outdoors and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
afterward.
• Don't eat raw or undercooked meat. Meat, especially lamb, pork and beef,
can harbor toxoplasma organisms. Don't taste meat before it's fully cooked.
Avoid raw cured meat.
• Wash kitchen utensils thoroughly. After preparing raw meat, wash cutting
boards, knives and other utensils in hot, soapy water to prevent cross-
contamination of other foods. Wash your hands after handling raw meat.
• Wash all fruits and vegetables. Scrub fresh fruits and vegetables, especially
if you plan to eat them raw. Remove peels when possible, but only after
washing.
• Don't drink unpasteurized milk. Unpasteurized milk and other dairy
products may contain toxoplasma parasites.
• Cover children's sandboxes. If you have a sandbox, cover it when your
children aren't playing in it to keep cats from using it as a litter box.