Author, Donkey, Bureaucrats, Administrators
53,803
edits
Changes
no edit summary
[[Image:Toxoplasma Life Cycle.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Toxoplasma'' Life Cycle Diagram - Dennis Jacobs & Mark Fox RVC]]
[[Image:Toxoplasma Life Cycle.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Toxoplasma'' Life Cycle Diagram - Dennis Jacobs & Mark Fox RVC]]
[[Image:Toxoplasma gondii 2.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Toxoplasma gondii'' - Courtesy of the Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine]]
[[Image:Toxoplasma gondii 2.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Toxoplasma gondii'' - Courtesy of the Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine]]
[[Image:Toxoplasmosis Tissue Cyst.jpg|thumb|right|200px| Toxoplasma tissue cyst. Source: Wikimedia Commons; Author: Marvin 101 (2008)]]
[[Image:Toxoplasmosis Tissue Cyst.jpg|thumb|right|150px| Toxoplasma tissue cyst. Source: Wikimedia Commons; Author: Marvin 101 (2008)]]
==Introduction==
==Introduction==
''Toxoplasma gondii'' is an obligate, intracellular coccidian parasite that is capable of infecting most mammals including man. Cats and other Felidae are the definitive host for ''T. gondii'', and all other mammals are intermediate hosts. ''Toxoplasma gondii'' has three infectious stages:
''Toxoplasma gondii'' is an obligate, intracellular coccidian parasite that is capable of infecting most mammals including man. Cats and other Felidae are the definitive host for ''T. gondii'', and all other mammals are intermediate hosts. ''Toxoplasma gondii'' has three infectious stages:
If a pregnant queen or human is naive to ''Toxoplasma gondii'' at the time of ingestion, '''transplacental infection''' can occur. The outcome of this depends on the stage of gestation. Infection during the first trimester usually has severe consequences, such as stillbirth or abortion; infections during the second or third trimesters are more likely to give rise to an infected foetus.
If a pregnant queen or human is naive to ''Toxoplasma gondii'' at the time of ingestion, '''transplacental infection''' can occur. The outcome of this depends on the stage of gestation. Infection during the first trimester usually has severe consequences, such as stillbirth or abortion; infections during the second or third trimesters are more likely to give rise to an infected foetus.
==Prevention==
''Toxoplasma'' infection could be controlled/prevented by testing for seropositive cats using [[ELISA testing|ELISA]] and [[Toxoplasmosis - Small Animal#Treatment|treating]]. Human toxoplasmosis can be prevented by avoiding oocyst ingestion (safe handling of cat litter/faeces), tissue cyst ingestion (appropriate food preparation). Pregnant women should not be in contact with aborting sheep or cat faeces. Sheep can be vaccinated or given medicated feed.
For more information see:
For more information see: