Toxoplasma

Question 1

What is the main species of Toxoplasma: (1)

Answer 1

Toxoplasma gondii

Question 2

What is the Final host of Toxoplasma gondii: (2)

Answer 2

Domestic cat and wild felids

Question 3

What are the Intermediate hosts of Toxoplasma gondii:

Answer 3

Vertebrates (Sheep and Humans)

Question 4

Morphology of Oocyst of Toxoplasma:

Answer 4

Has 2 Sporocyst and 4 Sporozoites in each

Question 5

Describe the Life cycle of Toxoplasma:

Answer 5

Final host
1. Cyst from infected intermediate host is ingested
2. Bradyzoites enter the small intestine and infect the cells where Schizogony happens (asexual phase) and then Gamogony (sexual phase)
3. Unsporulated Oocyst is formed and excreted in faeces

In the environment
1. Sporulation occurs

Intermediate host
1. Ingest Oocyte eventually forming Tissue cysts with Bradyzoites in Myocardia, CNS and Skeletal muscles

Human transmission can also occur by:
-Eating or handling raw meat
-Vertical transmission to foetus from pregnant woman in contact with infected cat poop

Question 6

Shedding of Toxoplasma gondii in cat:

Answer 6

Infected cat will only shed the parasite once in their lifetime for 2 weeks

Question 7

What are Tachyzoits:

Answer 7

Pseudocysts in various tissues, rarely in raw goat milk

Question 8

Toxoplasma causes in humans:

Answer 8

Toxoplasmosis
-Immunocompetent individuals: Asymptomatic, lymphadenopathy
-Immunocompromised patients (HIV): Encephalitis, Pneumonia, Vision problems
-Pregnant women: Abortus, Hyrdocephalus, Uveitis

Question 9

Toxoplasma causes in animals:

Answer 9

Sheep, goat
-Reproduction problems

Pallas cats, marsupials, lemurs, NW apes, Brown hare
-Acute fatal toxoplasmosis

Question 10

What are the diagnostic methods for Toxoplasma:

Answer 10

Final host
-Flotation technique: Oocysts that are 12x10um

Intermediate host
-Serology
-Biological assay: mice, cat
-PCR
-Genotyping