TOXOPLASMOSIS

Question 1

Toxoplasma gondii life cycle

Answer 1

Only definitive host – Felidae

• Unsporulated oocysts shed in cat feces
• 1-5 days to sporulate and become infective
• Intermediate hosts (birds, rodents) ingest contaminated soil, water, plant material
• Oocysts become tachyzoites after ingestion and localize in muscle and neural tissue becoming tissue cyst bradyzoites
• Cats can become infected after consuming tissue cysts or sporulated oocysts
• Humans infected from tissue cysts, cat feces or environment, blood transfusion, mother to fetus
• In humans typically form tissue cysts most of the time in the skeletal muscle

Question 2

Toxoplasmosis: Prevention:

Whole cuts of meat

Ground meat

Poultry meat

Answer 2

For Whole Cuts of Meat (excluding poultry)

• Cook to at least 145° F (63° C) as measured with a food thermometer placed in the thickest part of the meat, then allow the meat to rest* for three minutes before carving or consuming.

For Ground Meat (excluding poultry)

• Cook to at least 160° F (71° C); ground meats do not require a rest* time.

For All Poultry (whole cuts and ground)

• Cook to at least 165° F (74° C), and for whole poultry allow the meat to rest* for three minutes before carving or consuming.

Question 3

Toxoplasmosis: Prevention other than meat

Answer 3

• Freeze meat for several days at sub-zero (0° F) temperatures before cooking to greatly reduce chance of infection.
• Peel or wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.
• Do not eat raw or undercooked oysters, mussels, or clams (these may be contaminated with Toxoplasma that has washed into sea water).
• Do not drink unpasteurized goat’s milk.
• Wash cutting boards, dishes, counters, utensils, and hands with hot soapy water after contact with raw meat, poultry, seafood, or unwashed fruits or vegetables.
• Wear gloves when gardening and during any contact with soil or sand because it might be contaminated with cat feces that contain Toxoplasma.
• Wash hands with soap and warm water after gardening or contact with soil or sand.
• Teach children the importance of washing hands to prevent infection.