Toxoplasma gondii

Question 1

host

Answer 1

sheep, goats, pigs, pigeons, deer, poultry, dogs, rabbits, rodents, horses, cattle, humans - 30% of the world infected - only symptoms in immunosuppressed (opportunistic)

Question 2

carrier

Answer 2

cats

Question 3

morphology

Answer 3

bradyzoites in meat (does not cause inflam changes), tachyzoites in raw milk, oocyst shed in feces –> can survive 1 year in environment (water)

Question 4

transmission

Answer 4

ingesting contaminated food or water, vertical transmission (mother infected for 1st time just before or during pregnancy

Question 5

lifecycle

Answer 5

tachyzoites reproduce in in WBC’s, get released when cell bursts

Question 6

diagnosis

Answer 6

IgM for 1st time infection, IgG for lifelong immunity, CT scan for hydrocephalus, look for chorioretinitis, tissue biopsy

Question 7

symptoms

Answer 7

lymphadenopathy, chorioretinitus, hydrocephalus, AIDS patients die of toxoplasmic encephalitis

Question 8

treatment

Answer 8

ventriculoperitoneal shunt (hydrocephalus)
prophylaxis for IgM+ mothers- spiramycin