Toxoplasma gondii(toxoplasmosis).ppt

Toxoplasma gondii(toxoplasmosis) Toxoplasma gondii has very low host specificity, and it will probably infect almost any mammal.? It has also been reported from birds, and has been found in virtually every country of the world.? Like most of the Apicomplexa, Toxoplasma is an obligate intracellular parasite.? Its life cycle includes two phases called the intestinal (or enteroepithelial) and extraintestinal phases.? The intestinal phase occurs in cats only (wild as well as domesticated cats) and produces oocysts.? The extraintestinal phase occurs in all infected animals (including cats) and produces tachyzoites and, eventually, bradyzoites or zoitocysts.? The disease toxoplasmosis can be transmitted by ingestion of oocysts (in cat feces) or bradyzoites (in raw or undercooked meat). In most humans infected with Toxoplasma, the disease is asymptomatic.? However, under some conditions, toxoplasmosis can cause serious pathology, including hepatitis, pneumonia, blindness, and severe neurological disorders.? This is especially true in individuals whose immune systems are compromised (e.g., AIDS patients).? Toxoplasmosis can also be transmitted transplacentally resulting in a spontaneous abortion, a still born, or a child that is severely handicapped mentally and/or physically. Morphology The intracellular parasites (tachyzoite) are 3x6μ, crescent shaped organisms that are enclosed in a parasite membrane to form a cyst measuring 10-100 μ in size. Cysts in cat feces (oocysts) are 10-13 μ in diameter Another example of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites.? Intracellular tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii.? A zoitocyst of Toxoplasma gondii filled with bradyzoites; this zoitocyst is in cardiac muscle. A sporulated oocyst of Toxoplasma gondii.? The oocyst contains two sporocysts, each of which contain four sporozoites.? Thus, they resemble the oocysts of Isospora sp.? Only cats will produce and pass Toxoplasma oocysts; approximate diameter = 10 μm. Symptoms Although Toxop