This is an infection that happens due to a parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii. People usually get this infection (toxoplasmosis) from contact with cat feces. However, toxoplasmosis is dangerous especially for pregnant women because it can pass to a baby.
Commonly, those who are infected with this parasite do not have any symptoms. In most cases, this infection negatively affects infants and people with weakened immune systems. If you experience toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, it may lead to miscarriage and birth defects.
Mild toxoplasmosis cases usually do not need treatment but if you experience a severe form it is recommended to visit a doctor. There are different options that will help you to prevent the risk of infection.
Symptoms
Usually, people do not know they are infected until the symptoms happen. Check below some of them:
If you experience any of the previous symptoms, get medical help right away.
Furthermore, toxoplasma may impact the tissue of the inner eye and it usually occurs in people with weakened immune systems. In such cases, experts call this an ocular toxoplasmosis. The symptoms include poor vision, eye pain, and floaters. If you ignore this condition, it may lead to blindness.
What Are The Effects on People with Weakened Immunity?
Those who have a weakened body’s defense (immune system) are more likely to develop a serious infection form caused by toxoplasmosis. Moreover, you are at higher risk of serious infection if you have HIV infection, get cancer treatment, or experience an organ transplant.
Additionally, toxoplasmosis can also cause severe brain or lung disease in people with weakened immunity. In rare cases, this infection can impact other body tissues and organs. Common lung infection symptoms include trouble breathing, fever, and cough. Those who experience brain disease caused by toxoplasmosis usually notice inflammation (encephalitis), confusion, poor coordination, muscle weakness, seizures, and others.
What Are The Effects of Toxoplasmosis on Fetus or Infant?
This parasite can pass from the mother to the fetus during pregnancy (congenital toxoplasmosis). Toxoplasma can provoke miscarriage or other serious health conditions. These include:
- Extra fluid around the brain (hydrocephalus)
- Severe eye infection
- Abnormal brain tissue
- Enlarged spleen or liver
Check below the most common symptoms of the previous health problems:
- Seizures
- Heart disorders
- Yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
- Rash
- Hearing issues
- Vision problems (including blindness)
- Mental or motor skill problems
Sometimes, babies with toxoplasmosis do not have any symptoms but these can appear later during childhood or teenage years. Examples include:
- Slowed growth
- Deafness
- Difficulty learning and thinking
- Recurrent eye infections
- Early puberty
- Motor skill development issues
It is advised to discuss with your doctor if you are concerned about parasite exposure, especially if you are planning to become pregnant.
Immediately contact your doctor if any of the following symptoms happen. For example loss of coordination, confusion, and blurred vision.
Causes
This parasite can infect different birds and animals. Furthermore, it can go through a complete cycle of reproduction in domestic and wild cats, which are the primary hosts for this parasite.
When the parasite is in the middle reproduction stage (immature eggs) it can be located in the cat feces. These immature eggs can easily pass through the food chain. For instance, from soil and water to plants, animals, and humans. An infection occurs when the parasite finds a new host and the reproduction cycle starts.
In case you have strong immunity, it helps to prevent the parasite from reproducing. In other words, it stays in your body but is inactive. Sometimes, this can get you permanent immunity and if the parasite enters the body again the body’s defense will clear it.
However, if your immune system weakens later in life, the reproduction of this parasite can begin again. As a result, you may experience unwanted serious diseases and complications. Check below how people get toxoplasma infection:
- Cat feces with parasites – Usually, cats that eat raw meat or hunt are more likely to carry this parasite. If you get infected and touch the mouth, the parasite can enter the body.
- Contaminated water or food – People who eat undercooked beef, lamb, pork, venison, chicken, and shellfish are more prone to getting this infection. In addition, unpasteurized milk and untreated drinks also carry toxoplasma.
- Unwashed fruits and vegetables – This parasite can live on the surface of fruits and vegetables.
- Contaminated kitchen tool – Wash thoroughly all tools that were in contact with raw meat, unwashed fruits, and vegetables.
- Infected organ transplant or transfused blood – In rare cases, some people can get this infection through an organ transplant or blood transfusion.
Risk Factors
Anyone can get this parasite but the following factors increase your risk of getting it. Examples include:
- Chemotherapy for cancer
- High-dose steroids
- Medicines that prevent the rejection of transplant organs
- HIV infection
How to Prevent Toxoplasmosis?
The following tips can help you to prevent or avoid this infection. Examples include:
- You should wear gloves when you garden or handle soil. Thereafter, you should wash your hands with soap and water.
- It is not advised to eat raw or undercooked meat. Thus, you should use a meat thermometer to make sure the meat is enough cooked. For instance, fish (145 F or 63 C) for 3 minutes, ground meat (160 F or 71 C), and poultry (165 F or 74 C).
- Do not eat raw shellfish including raw clams, mussels, or oysters, especially during pregnancy.
- Wash thoroughly kitchen tools including cutting boards, knives, and others.
- It is recommended to wash all fruits and vegetables before preparing or eating them.
Check below some tips for cat lovers:
- It is advised to help your cat stay healthy. For instance, keep the cat indoors, feed it with dry or canned cat food, and avoid raw or undercooked meat.
- It is not advised to get a new cat while you are pregnant.
- You should clean the box daily, but if it is not possible wear gloves and a mask to change the litter. After that, it is recommended to wash thoroughly your hands.
Diagnosis
The toxoplasmosis is usually diagnosed by doctors based on blood tests. These tests help to detect two antibody types including an immune system agent that is preset during parasite infection and another antibody that shows if you have had an infection in the past. According to the results, doctors will repeat laboratory tests to confirm the condition. Furthermore, physicians may order you some additional tests depending on existing health conditions, family history, symptoms, and other factors. Check below some of them:
- Eye symptoms – For people with eye symptoms, physicians may perform an eye examination using special lenses or cameras. This procedure is usually performed by an ophthalmologist.
- Brain and nervous system symptoms – In such cases doctors recommend imaging tests including MRI or CT scans, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) tests, and brain biopsy.
Pregnancy
Usually, pregnant people are not routinely tested for toxoplasmosis in the U.S. However, doctors may order a diagnostic blood test if doctors think your symptoms are caused by toxoplasma infection, or during an ultrasound test, they identify some irregular features associated with toxoplasmosis.
Another test that will help to determine if you have toxoplasmosis is testing the fluid surrounding the baby (known as amniotic fluid). Physicians will insert a special tiny needle through your skin and into a fluid-filled sac to get a sample for testing.
Newborn
A blood test is often used to determine whether a newborn has toxoplasmosis or not. In case doctors confirm this infection, your baby may need regular monitoring and different tests that will help to control the disease. Examples include ultrasound or CT scans of the brain, spinal column fluid tests, eye tests, hearing tests, and tests of brain activity (electroencephalogram).
Treatment
Active infection forms are usually treated with medications. The duration of the treatment depends on several factors including the severity of the condition, immune system health, and where the infection is. Check below some medications used in the toxoplasmosis treatment:
- Pyrimethamine – Helps to fight against infections by blocking the body’s use of folic acid. The most common adverse reactions include bone marrow liver toxicity and bone marrow suppression.
- Leucovorin calcium – This medicine is often used in combination with Pyrimethamine to correct the effects of folic acid activity.
- Sulfadiazine – These antibiotics are also used along with Pyrimethamine. For example Clindamycin, Azithromycin, and others.
Healthcare providers may prescribe some anti-inflammatory steroids (known as Glucocorticosteroids) along with regular medicines to treat eye disease.
Additionally, the treatment for infants lasts between 1-2 years and it is advised to have regular appointments with your doctor to check for adverse effects, vision issues, and overall development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to cure toxoplasmosis completely?
Unfortunately, there is no way to cure this infection but with treatment, you can treat the active infection. However, getting rid of cysts is not possible but if you have healthy immunity this infection should not reactivate.
What are toxoplasmosis stages?
- Tachyzoites
- Bradyzoites
- Sporozoites
All these stages are linked with a complex life cycle.
What are the possible toxoplasmosis complications?
If you leave untreated this condition, it may lead to some complications. These include:
- Hydrocephalus
- Microcephaly
- Headaches
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Confusion
- Hepatosplenomegaly
- Jaundice
- Eye damage
- Seizures
- Rash
- Liver disease
Talk with your doctor if experience any of the previous complications. In addition, if you have additional questions, ask your healthcare professional.