Toxoplasma gondii

(toxoplasmosis)
• Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular
pathogen within the phylum Apicomplexa.

• First described in 1908 by Nicolle and Manceaux

working in North Africa and by Splendore working in
Brazil.
• This protozoan parasite is one of the most widespread

• with a broad host range including many birds and

mammals and a geographic range that is nearly
worldwide.
• Two phases of life cycle the intestinal
(enteroepithelial) and extraintestinal phases

• T. gondii is an intracellular parasite in many tissues,

such as intestinal epithelum and muscle

• The organisms can be found also free in the blood

and peritoneal exudate

• In the fetal life, the parasite infection can lead to

death (Human & sheep)
 Definitive host
• Mainly domestic and wild cats
• Cats can become infected by ingesting
sporulated oocyst or infected rodent or a
bird
 Intermediate host
• Human, cattle, birds, rodents, pigs, and
sheep.
• Humans get the disease through ingestion
of a cyst, infected raw meat, transplacental,
organ transplantation or blood transfusion
 Toxoplasma gondii exists in three forms
All parasite stages are infectious.

Tachyzoites
1. TACHYZOITES
2. BRADYZOIT
3. OOCYSTS
T IS
SU
Br EC
ad YS
yz TS
oi
te
Oocysts
s
Diagram of the Toxoplasma life cycle.
 Morphology
• The intracellular
parasites (tachyzoite)
are 3x6µ, crescent
shaped organisms
that are enclosed in
a parasite membrane
to form a cyst
measuring 10-100 µ
in size
Another example of
Toxoplasma gondii
tachyzoites
Bradyzoites in a
Zoitocyst: 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 sporozoites.
 Toxoplasma gondii :
Modes of transmission

• Ingestion of cyst-containing in
meat (carnivores)
• Ingestion of oocysts
(environmental contamination)
• Congenital infection
• Transfusion (rare)
• Raw goat’s milk, transplantation
 Geographic range
• Worldwide
• Infection is more common in warm
climates and lower altitudes than cold
climates and mountainous regions
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF
TOXOPLASMOSIS

• In places where raw meat consumption

is usual, population shows high
prevalence of toxoplasmosis
• Children between 0- 4 years do not
usually eat raw meat, so that if
toxoplasmosis prevalence in children
populatoin is high, contamination from
cats is the suspected source of infection
 Economic impact
• Toxoplasma gondii has a devastating
economic impact on the countries who
export livestock.
• Toxoplasmosis is leading cause of
abortion in sheep and goats.
 SOME CURIOSITIES ON
HUMAN TOXOPLASMOSIS
• Toxoplasma oocysts can be infective by
inhalation
• This is likely to happen in places where
vegetal ceilings/roofs/false atics are used in
house building
• Cat feces in the roofs/false atics are
gradually degraded and oocysts can go
down through the vegetal building material
• Inhalation of dust particles (oocysts included)
can lead to infection
SOME CURIOSITIES ON ANIMAL
TOXOPLASMOSIS
SOME CURIOSITIES ON ANIMAL
TOXOPLASMOSIS
SOME CURIOSITIES ON ANIMAL
TOXOPLASMOSIS
SOME CURIOSITIES ON ANIMAL
TOXOPLASMOSIS
 Symptoms
• In most humans infected with Toxoplasma, the disease is
asymptomatic.

• However, under some conditions toxoplasmosis can cause

serious pathology, including hepatitis, pneumonia,
blindness, and severe neurological disorders.

• This is especially true in individuals whose immune

systems are compromised (e.g., AIDS patients).

• Toxoplasmosis can also be transmitted transplacentally

resulting in a spontaneous abortion, still birth, or a child
that is severely handicapped mentally and/or physically.
• Its serious consequences are limited to
pregnant women and immunodeficient hosts.

• In immunocompetent adults, toxoplasmosis,

may produce flu-like symptoms, sometimes
associated with lymphadenopathy.

• In immunocompromised individuals, infection

results in generalized parasitemia
involvement of brain, liver lung and other
organs, and often death.
Children born with Toxoplasmosis may show
symptoms including:

– Fever
– Swollen glands
– Jaundice
– An unusually large or small head
– Rash
– Bruises or bleeding under the skin
– Anemia
– Enlarged liver or spleen
– Seizures
– Mental retardation
– Hearing loss
– Vision problems (toxoplasmosis of the eye)
Why should I mind for this parasite?
• A huge burden on economy, only in the USA,
the sanitary cost of raising transplacentally
infected children was $5.3 billion (1993).
• An important percentage of AIDS patients
die because of toxoplasmosis.
• The fetal infection can be also of veterinary
importance, sheeps and goats are prone to
abortion due to Toxoplasma.
 Immunology
Both humoral and cell mediated immune
responses are stimulated in normal
individuals. CMI is protective and humoral
response is of diagnostic value.
 Diagnostic tests for Toxoplasma

• Direct detection by microscopy and PCR

• Enzyme immunoassay for T. gondii specific IgM

(EIA) and IgG avidity

• Isolation and culture of parasite

 Treatment
Acute infections benefit from
pyrimethamine or sulphadiazine
• Avoid consumption of raw
or undercooked meat Prevention and
• Litterpans should be
control
changed daily

• Wash hands after handling

raw meat, litter pans & soil

• Pregnant women should

avoid contact with cats

• Cats should be kept

indoors

• Cat feces should be

flushed down the toilet or
burned