Toxoplasmosis What Everyone Should Know!

Toxoplasmosis

Important: Pregnant women should wash their hands whenever they touch any cat, to avid infection by the parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis

What is toxoplasmosis?

Toxoplasmosis is a condition resulting from a parasitic infection. It does not usually cause symptoms in children and adults. Indeed, in countries where the parasite responsible occurs virtually everywhere, blood tests will show that nearly the entire population may have been infected, but most people will have had no ill effects.

The situation is quite different when a pregnant woman transmits the infection to her unborn child. The congenital (present at birth) form can cause serious problems, and even death of the foetus. In most children and adults, the body’s immune system will normally provide protection against the infection. But in those with disorders which disrupt their immune systems, such as AIDS patients, it can be very serious.

What causes toxoplasmosis?

Toxoplasmosis is caused by infestation with the single-celled parasite Toxoplusmu gondii, which can infest any warm-blooded animal. It is transmitted from one animal to another, or to humans, by:

• Eating raw or under-cooked meat that is infected with the parasite, particularly pork or lamb.
• Coming into contact with the faeces of infected animals, usually cats.
• Contracting the infection while pregnant and then passing it on to the foetus.

Although cats are the most common source of infection, other animals, including dogs, sheep, pigs and cattle, can carry the disease. However, only cats excrete oocysts (cysts which contain the eggs of the parasite) in their faeces.

How is toxoplasmosis diagnosed and treated?

Toxoplasmosis may be diagnosed from symptoms, such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, headache, and weakness, or from examination of a swollen lymph node, and confirmed by a blood test to determine whether the parasite is present. In children and adults it is usually a minor problem. If symptoms occur at all, they are likely to be mild and pass without treatment. A chronic untreated infection may lead to vision problems, or other illness, but is rarely fatal.

However, in those with immune system disorders it can cause a severe and rapidly-developing infection, with a rash, high fever, and chills. Complications may include encephalitis (inflammation of the brain and its surrounding membranes), hepatitis, pneumonia, ormyocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle). If the foetus is infected,

miscarriage or stillbirth may occur. If the baby does survive, the stage at which the infection occurred is likely to affect the outcome of the pregnancy. The greatest risk of foetal damage is in the first trimester (three-month term of pregnancy), often causing serious central nervous system defects and leading to death in infancy.

If the foetus is infected later on in pregnancy, there may be no symptoms at first, but weeks, months, and even years later chorioretinitis (inflammation of the retina and underlying blood vessels) may develop, and may lead to blindness unless infection and inflammation are treated early.  Acute toxoplasmosis infections in newborn babies, and those with immune system disorders, are treated with oral medications that combine sulphcmzmides (a group of antibacterial drugs) with pyrimethumine (a drug used to treat malaria). With pregnant women the drug spiramycin may be used, as pyrimethamine can cause birth defects.

Toxoplasmosis infections in older children and other adults usually do not require treatment unless the eyes or vital organs, such as the brain or heart, are affected. In such cases, corticosteroids may also be prescribed to reduce the inflammation.

When should I see my doctor?

You should see your doctor as soon as possible if you suffer the symptoms of toxoplasmosis. This is essential in women who suspect they are pregnant. A past infection does not pose a threat to the foetus, but an active infection can cause serious problems. Treating the infection early in pregnancy can usually forestall these problems.

What will the doctor do?

The first step is to carry out blood tests to confirm the presence of the parasite. The appropriate drug treatment will then be prescribed. The doctor may also recommend aspirin or paracetamol to ease any discomfort.

Is toxoplasmosis dangerous?

Toxoplasmosis is dangerous in the congenital form and poses a risk to certain adults, such as those with immune system disorders. But in most cases involving adults and children there is very little danger.

What can I do to avoid toxoplasmosis?

• Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat, and wash your hands after touching raw meat. Do not allow cats or other pets to eat raw meat.
• Wear rubber gloves and a mask when emptying a cat litter box.
• Wear gloves when gardening or working with soil that may be contaminated by animal faeces, and wash your hands, arms and face afterwards.
• If you are pregnant or suffer an immune system disorder, have someone else empty your cat’s litter box. It is not necessary to find a new home for the cat.

SYMPTOMS

Toxoplasmosis acquired in children or adults may cause:

• Swollen lymph nodes.
• Fatigue.
• Muscle pain and weakness.
• Fever.
• Headache.
• Sore throat.
• Blurred vision.
• Congenital toxoplasmosis

may cause:

• Miscarriage or stillbirth.
• Infant jaundice.
• Rashes.
• Convulsions.
• Central nervous system defects.
• Blindness.

We have posted this blog in General Health interests, It is not really a food safety related item.  However, we thought the content of the article is very important to all of us – especially to  pregnant women or people with young children who play with cats.

If you want to know more about food safety related information, visit our Food Safety section at Bill & Sheila’s Cookbook