UNDERGRADU

ATE PROGRAM

COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

TITLE: TOXOPLASMOSIS OF CAT

COURSE CODE: - Vetm4142

SUBMITTED TO: - DR. ETENESH

SUBMISSION DATE: - FRI 9 APRIL 2021

NAME: - Tarekegn Tegegn

ID NO: - 1002530

April 2021

SAMARA
Content ……………………………………………………………………………………………..….page
1. INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................1
2. LITERATURE REVIEW....................................................................................................................2
Epidemiology...........................................................................................................................................2
Pathogenesis...........................................................................................................................................3
Clinical sign..............................................................................................................................................3
Causal Agent............................................................................................................................................4
Life Cycle:.................................................................................................................................................4
Diagnosis.................................................................................................................................................5
Treatment................................................................................................................................................6
Prognosis.................................................................................................................................................6
Prevention...............................................................................................................................................6
3. REFERANCE......................................................................................................................................7
i
1. INTRODUCTION

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the single-celled parasite Toxoplasma Gondi (T. Gondi). It

is one of the most common parasitic diseases and infects nearly all warm-blooded animals,
including pets and humans. Although cats are a necessary part of the life cycle of T. Gondi, the
parasite rarely causes clinical disease in them. While T. Gondi seldom causes significant
symptoms in healthy adults either (see below for exceptions), the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) has recently identified toxoplasmosis as one of five neglected parasitic
infections of people due to its high prevalence.

The life cycle of T. Gondi is complex and involves two types of hosts — “definitive” hosts in
which the parasite reproduces and forms eggs (called oocytes), and “intermediate” hosts in which
it reproduces by making clones of itself, which cluster inside cysts. Wild and domestic cats are
the only definitive hosts for T. Gondi. When a cat ingests infected prey or raw meat, the
parasite is released from cysts into the cat’s digestive tract, where it reproduces and produces
oocytes. Infected cats then excrete these oocytes in their feces by the millions. Newly exposed
cats usually begin shedding oocytes three to 10 days after consuming infected tissue, and
continue shedding for around 10 to 14 days. Oocytes are very hardy and may survive in the
environment for well over a year. Additionally, some of the T. Gondi released from cysts from
the infected meat will penetrate more deeply into the wall of the cat’s intestine and multiply as
yet another form, called a tachyzoite. This form then spreads from the intestine to other parts of
the cat.

1
2. LITERATURE REVIEW

Epidemiology
Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. In the United States it is
estimated that 11% of the population 6 years and older have been infected with Toxoplasma. In
various places throughout the world, it has been shown that up to 95% of some populations have
been infected with Toxoplasma. Infection is often highest in areas of the world that have hot,
humid climates and lower altitudes. 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 transmission: The tissue form of the parasite (a microscopic cyst consisting of
bradyzoites) can be transmitted to humans by food. People become infected by:

•Eating undercooked, contaminated meat (especially pork, lamb, and venison)

•Accidental ingestion of undercooked, contaminated meat after handling it and not washing
hands thoroughly (Toxoplasma cannot be absorbed through intact skin)

•Eating food that was contaminated by knives, utensils, cutting boards, or other foods that had
contact with raw, contaminated meat.

Zoonotic transmission: Cats play an important role in the spread of toxoplasmosis. They
become infected by eating infected rodents, birds, or other small animals. The parasite is then
passed in the cat's feces in an oocyst form, which is microscopic. Kittens and cats can shed
millions of oocysts in their feces for as long as 3 weeks after infection. Mature cats are less likely
to shed Toxoplasma if they have been previously infected. A Toxoplasma-infected cat that is
shedding the parasite in its feces contaminates the litter box. If the cat is allowed outside, it can
contaminate the soil or water in the environment as well. People can accidentally swallow the
oocyst form of the parasite. People can be infected by:

 Accidental ingestion of oocysts after cleaning a cat's litter box when the cat has shed
Toxoplasma in its feces.
 Accidental ingestion of oocysts after touching or ingesting anything that has come into
contact with a cat's feces that contain Toxoplasma.
  Accidental ingestion of oocysts in contaminated soil (e.g., not washing hands after
gardening or eating unwashed fruits or vegetables from a garden).
 Drinking water contaminated with the Toxoplasma parasite.
 Vertical (congenital) transmission:

Pathogenesis
Most cases of toxoplasmosis in humans are acquired by ingestion of infected meat containing tissue cysts
with bradyzoites or food contaminated with cat feces containing oocysts. Bradyzoites or sporozoites
penetrate intestinal cells and then spread locally to the mesenteric lymph nodes and then to distant organs
via the lymphatics and blood. Focal areas of necrosis may develop in a variety of organs and the clinical
manifestations reflect injury to specific tissues. Tissue death is not the result of a Toxoplasma toxin, but is
a consequence of the egress of the tachyzoites which destroys the host cell. Only 10-30% of toxoplasma
infections are symptomatic and the most common clinical manifestation in immunocompetent adults is
lymphadenitis and lymphadenopathy. The most common symptom is swollen lymph nodes which may be
associated with fever, headache, muscle pain, anemia and sometimes lung complications. Any lymph
node can be infected but commonly the deep cervical nodes of the neck are involved. There is malaise,
fever, and lymphocytosis which mimic infectious mononucleosis. The infection usually resolves on its
own in weeks or months.

Clinical sign
Most cats infected with T. Gondi show no signs of disease. Occasionally, however, a clinical
disease called toxoplasmosis occurs, often when the cat’s immune response cannot stop the
spread of tachyzoite forms. The disease is more likely to occur in cats with suppressed immune
systems, including young kittens and cats with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or feline
immunodeficiency virus (FIV). The most common symptoms of toxoplasmosis include fever,
loss of appetite, and lethargy. Other symptoms may occur depending upon whether the infection
is acute or chronic, and the location of the parasite in the body. In the lungs, T. Gondi infection
can lead to pneumonia, which will cause difficulty breathing that gradually worsens. Infections
affecting the liver may cause a yellowish tinge to the skin and mucous membranes (jaundice).

Toxoplasmosis can also affect the eyes and central nervous system (CNS),
producing inflammation of the uvea, or pigmented part of the eye (uveitis), the retina, or the
space between the lens and cornea (the anterior chamber) abnormal pupil size and
 responsiveness to light, blindness, lack of coordination, heightened sensitivity to touch,
personality changes, circling, head pressing, ear twitching, difficulty chewing and swallowing
Fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, lethargy food, seizures, and loss of control over urination and
defecation.

 Pneumonia causing breathing difficulties

 Inflammatory eye problems (uveitis and retinitis)
 Liver disease (hepatitis) causing jaundice
 Neurological (nervous) signs (eg, tremors or seizures)
 Less common signs of illness reported include: lymph node enlargement; vomiting and
diarrhoea; muscle pain

Causal Agent

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that infects most species of warm-blooded animals,
including humans, and causes the disease toxoplasmosis.

Life Cycle:

The only known definitive hosts for Toxoplasma Gondi are members of family Felidae (domestic
cats and their relatives). Unsporulated oocytes are shed in the cat’s feces

i. Although oocytes are usually only shed for 1–3 weeks, large numbers may be shed. Oocytes
take 1–5 days to sporulate in the environment and become infective. Intermediate hosts in
nature (including birds and rodents) become infected after ingesting soil, water or plant
material contaminated with oocytes

ii. Oocytes transform into tachyzoites shortly after ingestion. These tachyzoites localize in neural
and muscle tissue and develop into tissue cyst bradyzoites.

iii. Cats become infected after consuming intermediate hosts harboring tissue cysts
iv. Cats may also become infected directly by ingestion of sporulated oocysts. Animals bred for
human consumption and wild game may also become infected with tissue cysts after ingestion
of sporulated oocytes in the environment.

Diagnosis
Toxoplasmosis is usually diagnosed based on a cat’s history, signs of illness, and laboratory test
results. Measurement of two types of antibodies to T. Gondi in the blood, IgG and IgM, can help
diagnose toxoplasmosis. High levels of IgG antibodies to T. Gondi in a healthy cat suggest that
the cat has been previously infected and is most likely immune to the organism and not excreting
oocytes. These cats are no longer sources of infection for other hosts. High IgM antibody levels,
in contrast, suggest an active infection. The absence of any T. Gondi antibodies in a healthy cat
suggests that the cat is susceptible to infection and would shed oocytes for up to two weeks
following infection.
The detection of oocytes in the feces is not a reliable method of diagnosis because they look
similar to those of some other parasites. Additionally, cats can also shed oocytes for only a
short period of time and often are not shedding oocytes when they are showing signs of
disease. A definitive diagnosis requires microscopic examination of tissue samples for
distinctive changes to the tissues and the presence of tachyzoites.

Treatment

Treatment usually involves a course of an antibiotic called clindamycin, either alone or in

combination with corticosteroids if there is significant inflammation of the eyes or central
nervous system. Treatment should ideally be started immediately after diagnosis and
continued for several days after signs have disappeared. In acute illness, treatment is often started
on the basis of high initial IgM antibody levels. If clinical improvement is not seen within two to
three days, the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis may be questioned.

Sulfonamides and pyrimethamine (Daraprim) are 2 drugs that act synergistically by blocking the
metabolic pathway involving p-amino benzoic acid and the folic-falinic acid cycle are widely
used for therapy of Emerging Infectious Diseases,. The adverse effect of drug therapy can
overcome by administering folic acid and yeast Manual of diagnostic tests and
extract.Spiramycin and clindamycin also have anti toxoplasmas’ properties.

Prognosis 
The prognosis for cats diagnosed with toxoplasmosis depends upon the organs or systems
affected, the time between infection and treatment, and initial responses to therapy. Generally,
cats with CNS and eye symptoms respond to therapy more slowly, but they still have more
favorable prognoses if their clinical signs improve within 2-3 days of starting therapy. The
prognosis for cats with toxoplasmosis affecting the liver or lungs is usually poor.

Prevention
Reducing the incidence of toxoplasmosis in cats requires measures to reduce both exposure to
infective oocytes and shedding of oocytes into the environment. Cats should preferably be fed
commercially prepared, cooked foods (appropriate heating inactivates any T. Gondi cysts that
may be present) and should not be allowed to eat uncooked meat or intermediate hosts, such
as rodents. They should also be denied access to facilities housing food-producing livestock and
food storage areas.

Because cats only shed the organism for a short time, the chance of human exposure via cats
they live with is relatively small. Owning a cat does not mean you will be infected with
Toxoplasma. Since it takes a minimum of 24 hours for T. Gondi oocytes in cat feces to
sporulation and become infective, frequent removal of feces from the litter box, while wearing
gloves and washing hands afterward, minimizes the possibility of infection. It is unlikely that
you would be exposed to the parasite by touching an infected cat, because they usually do
not carry the parasite on their fur. It is also unlikely that you would become infected through
cat bites or scratches. Indoor cats that do not hunt prey or consume raw meat are unlikely to be
infected with T. Gondi. In the U.S., people are much more likely to become infected by eating
raw meat and unwashed fruits and vegetables than by handling cat feces. The possibility of
infection after gardening in soil that has been contaminated with cat feces also exists, and this
possibility can be mitigated by wearing gloves and by washing hands after gardening.

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