 G. Toxoplasma.

 G. Neospora.
 G. Sarcocystis.
 G. Besnoitia.
G.Toxoplasma
 It is caused by a single
species T.gondii.
 First observed in African
rodents (1908)
 RH strain is the most
pathogenic one.
 Zoonotic parasite.
*There are three forms (infective stages) of T.gondii:
1-Oocyst
2-Tachyzoites
3-Bradyzoites
• Cats are the definitive hosts.

 Shed in cat feces

 Oocysts can remain viable in

warm, moist soil for more
than1 year
 Acute stage of infection
 Most common in brain,
eye, liver, spleen, L.N.,....
 Rapid multiplication
• Contain slow growing form

( Bradyzoites)
 Most common in brain, skeletal
muscle, and cardiac muscle
 Remain allover the life of the host
 It is a facultative heteroxenous parasite.
 Can multiply and be transmitted between I.H without
the need of F.H.
 Can multiply in F.H. without I.H.

 F.H: Cat
◦ Exoenteric cycle (Tissue cycle)
◦ Enteric cycle
 I.H: All mammals (including man +birds)
◦ Exoenteric cycle
 Life cycle in F.H

F.H.(cat) :Acquires infection by:

 Ingestion of sporulated oocysts
(Sporozoites)
 Ingestion of rodents containing the
following infective stages:

◦ Pseudocyst :(Tachyzoites)
◦ Tissue cyst (Bradyzoites)
 Life cycle in I.H.
Infection through:
 Ingestion of sporulated oocyst(cat
faeces)…..Sporozoites
 Ingestion of raw or under-cooked meat
….. Tissue cyst……..Bradyzoites.
 Congenital
transmission…….Tachyzoites.
 In man:
◦ Meat handlers
◦ Blood transfusion Tachyzoites
◦ Transplantation
Intermediate hosts
Depends on :
*Host factors:
-Immunity
-Age
-Physiological status(pregnant or not)

*Parasitic factors:
-Number of infective doses.
-Virulence of the parasite (strain)
•Asymptomatic or mild signs
•1-10 % of toxoplasmosis have signs
•Non specific
□ Fever
□ Generalized lymphadenitis(Cervical L.N.)
□ Skin rash
□ Chorioretinitis(Blindness)
□ Hepatospleenomegaly
□ Jaundice
□ Myocarditis
□ Fatigue (muscular and Joint pain)
 In immuno-compromised patients(already
harbouring tissue cysts) lead to:
 Occular toxoplasmosis
 Fatal C.N.S.disorders such as (Encephalomyelitis)
 The common form in man
 Occurs when pregnant female acquires infection at
pregnancy
 Transplacental transmission may result in:
◦ Intrauterine fetal death
◦ Newborn with the following signs:
 Hydrocephalus
 Convulsions
 Hepatomegaly& jaundice
 Rash
 Cerebral calcifications
 In children who survive infection, there is a
congenital damage to the brain manifested
as:
Mental retardation
 Toxoplasmosis in domestic animals

infection can result in:

- Spontaneous abortion, still birth, premature
birth,
 Clinical signs
 Laboratory diagnosis
1-Faecal examination of cat faeces………
*Toxoplasma oocyst(D.D):
*Besnoitia
*Isospora
(faecal culture)
 10 microns

1 2 3 4 5 6

Otify,yz
Fig. 10 Oocysts of coccidian parasites in fresh feces
of cat.
1- Sarcocystis bovifelis sporocyst;
2- Toxoplasma gondii ;
3- Hammondi hammondi;
4- Besnoitia besnoiti;
5- Isospora rivolta;
6-Isospora felis.
2-Detection of Tachyzoites & Bradyzoites:
*Tachyzoites: Smears of the infected tissue (body
fluids, placenta, L.N, foetal viscera,….):
-Direct or, stained with Giemsa stain

*Bradyzoites: Detected in tissue cysts

(Histopathological examination)

3-Lab. animal inoculation(mice): with the suspected

tissue or body fluids.

4-Serological tests:(Serum of woman)

 Cont.

5-Detection of DNA…….. PCR in case

of congenital infection using:
 Body fluids
 Amniotic fluids
 CS fluids
 Peripheral blood
 Toxoplasmosis is not curable, it stays in the
person’s body for life, but will remain inactive
causing no harm. (life long immune protection)
 If the person’s immune system is not working
correctly due to HIV or cancer therapy,
toxoplasmosis can be reactivated and cause
serious harm (nervous system).
 Treatment:
* Pyrimethamine+Sulpha
* Treatment of infected women:
Spiramycin(Rovamycin)
*In a child with congenital
toxoplasmosis:Spiramycin+Trimethoprim
(for at least one year)
* In cats :
Clindamycin(but not stop the shedding of
oocysts)
 Good diagnosis
 Prophylaxis
- Proper cooking of meat.

- Feces of house cat must be immediately

eliminated.

- Pregnant women and immunocompromised

patients should avoid contact with cats
G.Neospora
 G. Neospora
N.caninum

■ Tissue cyst forming coccidian parasites, cause

paralysis of hind limb of dogs and repeated

abortion of cattle.
■ Dog act as final and intermediate host

■ Cattle, sheep, goat, camel, equine are intermediate

hosts.

■ Distribution
©Alexandria Faculty of Veterinary
©Alexandria Faculty of
Veterinary
Pathogenesis and symptoms

■ Tachyzoites multiplication destructs host

cells.

■ Signs: general illness or may be

asymptomatic.
■ Congenital infection:
► Repeated abortion,
► Stillbirth
► or infected newborn, die within 3 weeks.

■ Tissue cyst: Paralysis and muscular

weakness in dog or cattle.
Diagnosis

■ Clinical signs in dogs & cattle ( neuromuscular

paralysis in hind limbs of dogs and newly born calf,
repeated abortion in cattle)
■ Fecal exam of dog
■ Histological exam (NC stages in dogs and cattle)
■ Serological tests
■ DNA detection
■ Tissue culture propagation
©Alexandria Faculty of Veterinary
 Eradication of stray dogs
 Isolation of aborted cattle
 Vaccination
 G. Sarcocystis

■ Tissue cyst forming coccidian parasites

■ F.H: Cat and dog (Carnivorous)

■ I.H: Herbivorous, equines and birds

■Man and pig, final or intermediate
hosts
for some Sarcocystis species.

■ Distribution

■ Cysts are microscopic or

macroscopic
©Alexandria Faculty of Veterinary
7
Phases of Sarcocystosis

Acute sarcocystosis:

■ Tissues damage
rupture of wall of the blood vessels
due to tachyzoites development.

■ Pathogenic species
S.bovicanis, S.ovicanis and S.neurona.
Chronic sarcocystosis:

■ Mild reaction associated with cyst in

muscle.

■ S.neurona in equine cause

inflammation of brain and spinal cord.
Clinical signs
■ Asymptomatic or mild signs
- Some diarrhea in puppies, kitten and man
- Pathogenic species: S.bovicanis &
S.ovicanis,
- Young and less immune cattle and sheep
when infected by high number of sporocysts
cause: fever, swelling of L.nodes and
viscera, may end by abortion and death.
S.neurona in equine cause neuromuscular

paralysis (Equine protozoal

myeloencephalitis , EPM).
Diagnosis
Final host:
- Mild diarrhea
- Fecal examination- direct or stained
smears.
Intermediate hosts:
- Symptoms, PM examination, Histological
exam., Muscle digestion, Serological tests.
Mov

©Alexandria Faculty of Veterinary

13
©Alexandria Faculty of Veterinary
©Alexandria Faculty of Veterinary
©Alexandria Faculty of Veterinary
 G. Besnoitia

■ Coccidian parasites, forming skin tissue cyst in

Cattle, equine, goat and rat (Intermediate hosts).
■ Cat is the final host
■ Distribution: B.besnoiti – Africa, Asia
B.benneti – Europe, America

■ Obligatory life cycle

Pathogenesis and Signs
in Intermediate host
■ Acute besnoitiosis (Tachyzoites developments)
- Tissues damage
- Fever
- Swelling of L.nodes,
- Lower vision
- Diarrhea.
■ Chronic besnoitiosis (Cyst in skin)
- Chronic skin lesions:
◙ Elephant appearance in cattle
◙ Mange like in equine

- Death in sever case or self cure within 7-10

months
Diagnosis
■ History and clinical signs
■ Fecal exam of cat
■ Histological exam, biopsy from skin nodules
and lymph nodes.
■ Serological tests
Control
■ Control of stray cats
■ Treatment