Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. A single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasmosis is a common disease found in birds and mammals across North America. While the parasite is found throughout the world, more than 60 million people in the United States may be infected with the Toxoplasma parasite.Of those who are infected, very few have symptoms because a healthy person's immune system usually keeps the parasite from causing illness. However, pregnant women and individuals who have compromised immune systems should be cautious; for them, a Toxoplasma infection could cause serious health problems. Toxoplasma infection occurs by first is swallowing cat feces from a Toxoplasma -infected cat that is shedding the organism in its feces. This might happen if you were to accidentally touch your hands to your mouth after gardening, cleaning a cat's litter box, or touching anything that has come into contact with cat feces. Eating contaminated raw or partly cooked meat, especially pork, lamb, or venison; by touching your hands to your mouth after handling undercooked meat
Second is Contaminating food with knives, utensils, cutting boards and other foods that have had contact with raw meat. Drinking water contaminated with Toxoplasma and last is Receiving an infected organ transplant or blood transfusion, though this is rare. Although the infection doesn't normally spread from person to person (with the exception of pregnant women, who can pass it on to their fetuses), in rare instances toxoplasmosis can contaminate blood transfusions and organs donated for transplantation. Pregnant women unborn child may also become infected. Infected babies may not develop any disease, or they may become very ill, with serious damage to the brain and eyes.
Causes of Toxoplasmosis
Common causes of Toxoplasmosis
- Contaminated soil.
- Handling of cat litter.
- Ingestion of raw
- Undercooked meat.
- Infection.
- Protozoan.
Symptoms of Toxoplasmosis
Common symptoms of Toxoplasmosis
- Fever.
- Headache.
- Sore throat.
- Sore muscles and tiredness.
- Swollen glands in the neck.
- Armpits or groin.
- Pain.
- Burred vision.
- Granulomatous iritis.
- Vitritis.
- Optic disc swelling.
- Neuroretinitis.
- Vasculitis.
- Brain damage at birth.
- Seizures.
- Respiratory failure.
- Cardiovascular compromise.
Treatment of Toxoplasmosis
Common Treatment of Toxoplasmosis
- Pregnant women or persons who have weakened immune systems, medications are available to treat toxoplasmosis.Pregnant women who become ill with acute toxoplasmosis should be treated with spiramycin.
- The cysts are immune to the standard acute treatments, as the antibiotics do not reach the bradyzoites in sufficient concentration.The antibiotic atovaquone has been used to kill Toxoplasma cysts in situ in AIDS patients.In mice, a combination of atovaquone with clindamycin seemed to optimally kill cysts.
- Patients with HIV/AIDS or patients who are immunosuppressed should be given sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine.
- Wear gloves when you garden or do anything outdoors that involves handling soil. Cats, which may pass the parasite in their feces, often use gardens and sandboxes as litter boxes. Wash your hands well with soap and water after outdoor activities, especially before you eat or prepare any food.
- Cook all meat thoroughly; that is, to an internal temperature of 160° F and until it is no longer pink in the center or until the juices become colorless. Do not taste meat before it is fully cooked.
- Surgical modalities, such as laser photocoagulation and cryopexy, have less value and are traditionally.
- During pregnancy control flies and cockroaches as much as possible.They can spread contaminated soil or cat feces onto food.
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