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| | ==Treatment== | | ==Treatment== |
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| | + | Asymptomatic infections in immunocompetent patients do not require treatment. However, immunocompromised people, neonates and pregnant women are usually treated with sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine. Clindamycin can also be used. |
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| | + | From a veterinary perspective, the emphasis is on preventing human ''Toxoplasma gondii'' infection. Tissue cysts in meat are inactivated by thorough cooking and by freezing, so care should be taken that food is properly prepared. The hands of those handling meat, kitchen utensils and work surfaces should all be washed with soap and water after contact with raw meat. Meat should not be tasted during cooking. To minimise contact with potentially contaminated cat faeces, gloves should be worn whilst gardening, and vegetables should be washed before consumption. Pregnant women should avoid contact with cats; if this is not possible then they should at least avoid changing cat litter. Litter boxes should be covered and emptied daily, and cats should never be fed raw meat. Contact with infected ewes is a risk for pregnant women, and so they should not assist at lambing time. |
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| − | Asymptomatic infections in immunocompetent patients do not require treatment. However, immunocompromised people, neonates and pregnant women should be treated, usually with sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine. Clindamycin can also be used.
| + | There is no vaccine against toxoplasmosis in man. |
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| − | From a veterinary perspective, the emphasis is on preventing human ''Toxoplasma gondii'' infection.
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| − | To prevent infection, the hands of people handling meat should be washed thoroughly with soap and water after contact, as should all cutting boards, sink tops, knives, and other materials. The stages of T gondii in meat are killed by contact with soap and water. T gondii organisms in meat can also be killed by exposure to extreme cold or heat. Tissue cysts in meat are killed by heating the meat throughout to 67°C or by cooling to -13°C. Toxoplasma in tissue cysts are also killed by exposure to 0.5 kilorads of gamma irradiation. Meat of any animal should be cooked to 67°C before consumption, and tasting meat while cooking or while seasoning should be avoided. Pregnant women should avoid contact with cat litter, soil, and raw meat. Pet cats should be fed only dry, canned, or cooked food. The cat litter box should be emptied daily, preferably not by a pregnant woman. Gloves should be worn while gardening. Vegetables should be washed thoroughly before eating because they may have been contaminated with cat feces.
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| − | At present there is no vaccine to prevent toxoplasmosis in humans.
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| | ==Links== | | ==Links== |