Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis
A zoonotic (animal-transmitted) infection caused by infection with the parasite Toxoplasma
gondii. Infection is more serious in pregnant women and immunocompromised patients.
SPREAD B Y Contact with cat faeces, e.g. cleaning out cat litter trays. Ingesting water,
food or soil contaminated with the faeces of infected animals, e.g. unwashed salad. Eating
undercooked meat containing cysts. Vertical transmission from mother to foetus. Receiving
an organ transplant from a donor with acute or latent toxoplasmosis.
Direct person-to-person transmission does not occur, except from mother to foetus. See
below for an explanation of the life-cycle and how transmission occurs.
I N F E C T I O U S P E R I OD The incubation period is 5–20 days for acute infection.
Reactivation of infection can occur years after the original exposure.
There is no recognised infectious period because person-to-person transmission does
not occur.
I N F E C T I O N C O N T R O L P R E C A U T I O N S
1 Isolation Not required
2 Hand washing Required
3 Gloves Not required
4 Apron Not required
5 Mask Not required
6 Eye protection Not required
S TA F F No further precautions.
VI S I T O R S No further precautions.
PAT I E N T T R A N S F E R No restrictions.
MORE INFORMAT I O N Toxoplasma gondii infects all mammal and bird species worldwide
and it is estimated that up to one billion people worldwide have been exposed.
The life-cycle is complicated, but essentially cats are the main ‘definitive’ host in which
the parasite completes its life-cycle. An infected cat sheds the parasite as cysts in its stool,
which can subsequently infect people or other mammals who ingest them. Once
Toxoplasma has entered the body, it causes a primary infection and then disseminates via
the bloodstream to form tissue cysts, which lie latent for years but which can reactivate
if you become immunocompromised.
The primary infection is often asymptomatic but can cause an illness resembling glandular
fever with fever, generalised lymphadenopathy, headache and myalgia.
Other clinical scenarios are: ocular infection (usually due to reactivation of the disease);
toxoplasmosis in the immunocompromised, which is usually due to reactivation and often
affects the central nervous system; and congenital toxoplasmosis.
Pregnant women should avoid exposure to toxoplasmosis by modifying their diet and
avoiding contact with cat faeces. Congenital toxoplasmosis can cause foetal abnormalities
or death – the effect depends upon the gestation at the time of infection. Any pregnant
woman who is concerned about toxoplasmosis should seek medical advice.
Treatment for toxoplasmosis is available but is not generally required in immunocompetent,
non-pregnant patients. In other