Apicomplexan 3 Flashcards
What phase of Toxoplasma gondii is the quickly proliferating intracellular stage?
Tachyzoite
Which stage of Toxoplasma gondii is the slowly proliferating stage within tissue cysts?
Bradyzoite
Which stage of Toxoplasma gondii is inhibited by the immune response?
Tachyzoite
What are the 3 GENERAL modes of transmission of Toxoplasma gondii?
- Ingested of sporulated oocyst
- Transplacental
- Intermediate host
Toxoplasma gondii:
Tissue cysts with _____ in an intermediate host are infective.
Bradyzoites
Toxoplasma gondii:
Transplacental transmission by _____.
Tachyzoites
What is the definitive host of Toxoplasma gondii?
Cat
What is the primary means of transmission of Toxoplasma gondii?
Eating tissue cysts with bradyzoites
Where do merogony and gametogony occur for Toxoplasma gondii?
ONLY in the GI tract
True or False:
Toxoplasma gondii infected hosts shed sporulated oocysts in their feces.
FALSE
Oocysts are unsporulated
True or False:
- Toxoplasma gondii has an extra-intestinal phase.
- Sporulation of the unsporulated oocyst occurs in the environment over a period of about 10 days.
- TRUE
- FALSE - sporulation takes about 1-5 days
What type of replication occurs in the intermediate host of Toxoplasma gondii?
Extra-intestinal replication
Toxoplasma gondii:
Cysts with bradyzoites can be found in which parts of an intermediate host’s body?
Eyes
Brain
Striated muscle
Toxoplasma gondii:
How would congenital infection occur?
Mother would have to be infected DURING the pregnancy, not before
Explain how a kitten might typically become infected with Toxoplasma gondii
Maternal antibody levels decline –> begin hunting –> ingest an intermediate host
When do cats typically shed oocysts when infected with Toxoplasma gondii?
Cats usually shed oocysts only ONCE in their lifetime following the primary infection
Why is congenital infection with Toxoplasma gondii uncommon?
Cats are typically exposed to Toxoplasma prior to pregnancy
Clinical toxoplasmosis is relatively uncommon in dogs. In what populations of dogs might it be more common?
The young
The immunosuppressed
Explain the outcome of a congenital infection of Toxoplasma gondii in a small ruminant. Why does the outcome vary?
Outcome varies depending on the stage of gestion when infection occurred/severity of that infection:
Early embryonic death
Fetal death and abortion
Stillbirth
Birth of weak offspring
Birth of congenitally infection normal offspring
Which 3 species are relatively resistant to toxoplasmosis?
Cattle
Horses
Camelids
True or False:
Toxoplasma gondii congenital infections are more severe in humans the later in gestation they occur.
FALSE
More severe the earlier in gestation they occur
Human Toxoplasma gondii infection:
What type of disease process might you see in an immune compromised individual?
Encephalitis
Toxoplasma gondii: unsporulated oocyst from fresh cat feces
Isosporid sporulated oocyst of Toxoplasma gondii
(NOT from fresh feces)
When you have reproductive loss in a small ruminant, what type of diagnostics might you want to run for Toxoplasma gondii?
- Check for gross lesions in placental cotyledons (multi focal grayish-white areas)
- Anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in fetal fluid
- Histopathology of fetal brain +/- placenta
- What are 2 drugs you could use to treat Toxoplasmosis in small animals?
- Which life cycle stage are those medications active against?
- Clindamycin & Pyremethamine
- Active against tachyzoites
What scenerio is the highest risk to humans for a Toxoplasma infection?
Seronegative human
+
Cat shedding oocysts
Which Toxoplasmosis scenerio poses the lowest risk to humans?
Seropositive human
+
Cat not shedding oocysts
How might you prevent transmission of Toxoplasma to humans?
Prevent ingestion of tissue cysts:
- Wear gloves when handling raw meat
- Wash hands after handling raw meat
- Avoid unpasteurized goat milk
- Avoid undercooked deer meat
Which 3 meats are at highest risk for carrying Toxoplasma?
Lamb
Pork
Goat (chevron)
How might you help prevent/control a pregnant woman who owns a cat from getting infected with Toxoplasma?
Prevent oocyst sporulation & ingestion:
- Clean litter box daily
- Kill oocysts in litter box with boiling water
- Wash hands
- Wear gloves when gardening
How might you help prevent/control spread of Toxoplasma to a cat?
Prevent hunting (keep indoors)
Feed commercial cat food only (no raw meat)
Clean litter box daily
How might you help prevent/control spread of Toxoplasma to a small ruminant such as a sheep?
Decrease exposure of gestating ewes to oocysts:
- Keep cats out of feed sources
- Keep neutered cats only
- Minimize hunting by cats
Keep only older ewes
Feed ewes monensin during gestation
What are the only known definitive hosts of Neospora caninum?
Dogs
Coyotes
What are some of the intermediate hosts of Neospora caninum?
Cattle
Sheep
Goats
Horses
Deer
True or False:
Neospora caninum has an extra-intestinal phase
TRUE
True or False:
The immune system is better at controlling a Neospora caninum infection that it is at controlling a Cryptosporidium infection.
FALSE
Immune system is better at controlling a Cryptosporidium infection.
What are the modes of transmission for Neospora caninum?
- Ingestion of tissue cysts with bradyzoites
- Transplacental transfer of tachyzoites