What disease does Toxoplasma gondii cause?

Untreated, these infections can lead to blindness. But if your immune system is weakened, especially as a result of HIV / AIDS , toxoplasmosis can lead to seizures and life-threatening illnesses such as encephalitis — a serious brain infection. In people with AIDS , untreated encephalitis from toxoplasmosis is fatal.

What is Toxoplasma gondii classification?

Toxoplasma gondii (/ˈtɒksoʊplæzmə ˈɡɒndiaɪ/) is an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan (specifically an apicomplexan) that causes toxoplasmosis. Found worldwide, T.

How are Toxoplasma gondii oocysts infective to humans?

Most cases of toxoplasmosis in humans are probably acquired by the ingestion of either tissue cysts in infected meat or oocysts in food contaminated with cat feces. Bradyzoites from the tissue cysts or sporozoites released from oocysts penetrate the intestinal epithelial cells and multiply in the intestine.

What are the stages of Toxoplasma gondii?

There are three infectious stages of T. gondii: the tachyzoites (in groups or clones), the bradyzoites (in tissue cysts), and the sporozoites (in oocysts). These stages are linked in a complex life cycle (Fig. ​

What are symptoms of toxoplasmosis in humans?

Symptoms of the infection vary. Most people who become infected with Toxoplasma gondii are not aware of it because they have no symptoms at all. Some people who have toxoplasmosis may feel as if they have the “flu” with swollen lymph glands or muscle aches and pains that may last for a month or more.

What does toxoplasmosis do to the brain?

A research group from the University of Leeds has shown that infection by the brain parasite Toxoplasma gondii, found in 10-20 percent of the UK’s population, directly affects the production of dopamine, a key chemical messenger in the brain.

What is the scientific name for Toxoplasma gondii?

Toxoplasma gondiiToxoplasma gondii / Scientific name

What is Toxoplasma gondii morphology?

With regards to morphology, this stage of the parasite is characterized by a spherical/ovoid cell surrounded by a thin cyst wall. However, they may also appear more slender in shape. Generally, their nucleus is located at the posterior end (compared to the nucleus of tachyzoites that is centrally positioned).

How long do toxoplasmosis oocysts live?

During a primary infection, the cat can excrete millions of oocysts daily for 1-3 weeks. The oocysts are very strong and may remain infectious for more than one year in warm humid environments.

What are the two types of life cycles in Toxoplasma?

It consists of 2 forms: tachyzoites (the rapidly dividing form observed in the acute phase of infection) and bradyzoites (the slowly growing form observed in tissue cysts). A cat becomes infected with T gondii by eating contaminated raw meat, wild birds, or mice.

How do humans catch toxoplasmosis?

Etiologic Factors: Toxoplasma can be transmitted to humans by three principal routes: a) ingestion of raw or inadequately cooked infected meat; b) ingestion of oocysts, an environmentally resistant form of the organism that cats pass in their feces, with exposure of humans occurring through exposure to cat litter or …