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ToxoplasmosisToxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasmagondii. This apicomplexan protozoan has been found in nearly allanimals and most birds; cats are the definitive host and required for completion of the sexual cycle. Animals shed oocysts in thefeces; the oocysts enter another host by way of the nose or mouth;and the parasites colonize the intestine. Toxoplasmosis also canbe transmitted by the ingestion of raw or undercooked meat, congenitaltransfer, blood transfusion, or a tissue transplant. Originallytoxoplasmosis gained public notice when it was discoveredthat in pregnant women the protozoan might also infect the fetus,causing serious congenital defects or death.Most cases of toxoplasmosis are asymptomatic. Adults usuallycomplain of an infectious mononucleosis-like syndrome.In immunoincompetent or immunosuppressed individuals, it frequentlyresults in fatal disseminated disease with a heavy cerebralinvolvement.Acute toxoplasmosis is usually accompanied by lymphnode swelling (lymphadenopathy) with reticular cell enlargementor hyperplasia. Pulmonary necrosis, myocarditis, and hepatitiscaused by tissue necrosis are common. Retinitis (inflammationof the retina of the eye) is associated with the necrosisdue to the proliferation of the parasite within retinal cells. Currentlytoxoplasmosis has become a major cause of death inAIDS patients from a unique encephalitis with necrotizing lesionsaccompanied by inflammatory infiltrates. It continues tocause more than 3,000 congenital infections per year in theUnited States.Laboratory diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is by serologicaltests. Epidemiologically, toxoplasmosis is ubiquitous in allhigher animals. Treatment of toxoplasmosis is with a combinationof pyrimethamine (Daraprim) and sulfadiazine. Preventionand control requires minimizing exposure by the following:avoiding eating raw meat and eggs, washing hands after workingin the soil, cleaning cat litterboxes daily, keeping personal cats indoorsif possible, and feeding them commercial food.
Lansing M.Prescott.2002.Microbiology 5th.Mc Graw Hill Companies:Philadelphia. page 967 (ebook)