Understanding Toxoplasmosis: Transmission and Pathogens

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Type: Prostital Disease Name: Toxoplasmosis Name of pathogen: Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a single celled parasitic organism, one of the world's most common parasites, infecting most warm- blooded species. The only known hosts for the protist are members of family Felidae (domestic cats and their relatives). Transmission People typically become infected by three principal routes of transmission. Food- Bourne Eating undercooked, contaminated meat (especially pork, lamb, and venison) Accidental ingestion of undercooked, contaminated meat after handling it and not washing hands thoroughly Eating food that was contaminated by kitchen utensils or other foods that had contact with raw, contaminated meat Zoonatic Accidental ingestion after cleaning an cat's litter box when the cat has Toxoplasma in its feces Accidental ingestion after touching or ingesting anything that has come into contact with a cat's feces that contain Toxoplasma Accidental ingestion of …show more content…

Many infections end in stillbirth or miscarriage. Children who survive are likely to be born with serious problems, such as, seizures, an enlarged liver and spleen, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice) and severe eye infections. Often, infected children don't develop signs and symptoms until later on, symptoms include hearing loss, mental disability or serious eye infections. Treatment Most healthy people recover from toxoplasmosis without treatment. Persons who are ill can be treated with a combination of drugs such as pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, plus folinic acid. Pregnant women, newborns, and infants can be treated, although the parasite is not eliminated completely. The parasites can remain within tissue cells in a less active phase; their location makes it difficult for the medication to completely eliminate them.

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